Boron - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
An element used in glass, ceramics, fertilisers and high-performance materials.USGS country statistics cover several products, including crude ore, ulexite, compounds and boric oxide equivalent. Each product has its own reporting basis.
Boron Global Production & Country Share
Measure: U.S. Boron: Imports for consumption: Refined borax (thousand metric tons)
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boron: Production | thousand metric tons | W | W | W | W | W |
| Boron: Imports for consumption: Refined borax | thousand metric tons | 232 | 168 | 156 | 150 | 120 |
| Boron: Imports for consumption: Boric acid | thousand metric tons | 54 | 48 | 38 | 43 | 45 |
| Boron: Imports for consumption: Colemanite (calcium borates) | thousand metric tons | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Boron: Imports for consumption: Ulexite (sodium borates) | thousand metric tons | 49 | 38 | 20 | 28 | 38 |
| Boron: Exports: Boric acid | thousand metric tons | 280 | 239 | 253 | 246 | 260 |
| Boron: Exports: Refined borax | thousand metric tons | 607 | 651 | 604 | 655 | 600 |
| Boron: Consumption, apparent | thousand metric tons | W | W | W | W | W |
| Boron: Employment, number | number | 1,330 | 1,400 | 1,430 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Boron: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) | Net Exporter (E) |
Frequently Asked Questions - Boron
What production statistics are available for boron?
USGS country statistics cover several products, including crude ore, ulexite, compounds and boric oxide equivalent. Each product has its own reporting basis.
Does USGS publish a country reserve ranking for boron?
The USGS chapter describes the available reserve information. USGS country statistics cover several products, including crude ore, ulexite, compounds and boric oxide equivalent. Each product has its own reporting basis.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for boron?
In 2025, the United States was a net exporter ('E') for net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption. Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (All forms) were Türkiye (90%), Bolivia (6%), Other countries (4%).
How is boron classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (Added in 2025 Final List). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Borosilicate glass, fiberglass insulation, ceramics, nuclear control systems, and agricultural micronutrients. Global producers report boron in incompatible product forms-including crude borate ore, ulexite, refined borates, and boric oxide (B₂O₃) equivalent-preventing a single uniform country tonnage ranking.