All fact sheets · The Strata Memo
Boron
Hover, focus or tap to see the real thing
Photo James L Marshall. “Boron R105.jpg.” CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons. File page
Chemical details
- State at room conditions
- Solid
- Melting point
- 2,348 K (2,075 °C)
- Boiling point
- 4,273 K (4,000 °C)
- Density
- 2.37 g/cm³
- Common oxidation states
- +3
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.04
- Atomic radius
- 192 pm
- First ionization energy
- 8.298 eV
- Discovered
- 1808
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine, PubChem, Periodic Table of Elements (element Boron) (current at retrieval)
On the USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Figures: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 (data release, public domain). Estimates are USGS's; check the USGS chapter for notes. Each panel names its source; full citations are in the methodology source register.
Overview
The headline numbers: how much the U.S. depends on imports and how concentrated supply is.
How much does the U.S. import?
The U.S. exported more boron than it imported in 2025 (USGS: net exporter).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Boron (February 2026)
Did you know?
Turkey and the United States are the world's largest producers of boron.
Two sources; the second is less authoritative or covers it loosely. Verified 2026-10-26.
Sources: Wikipedia · USGS National Minerals Information Center (Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA)
Supply
Who produces it, where the reserves are, where U.S. imports come from, and how U.S. supply has moved.
Who has it, and who digs it?
Where the reserves are
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| United States | 100% |
Share of the world total as printed by USGS (rounded). Production and reserves are different things: reserves are what is economic to mine. Hover or focus a bar for its value, or switch to the table view.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Boron (February 2026)
Where U.S. imports come from
Choose a data set, then a view. A country keeps the same color in every chart on this page. Grey means other countries, or a country beyond the seven colors (always labeled). Hover or focus a mark for its value, or use the table view.
- Turkey90%
- Bolivia6%
- Other countries4%
| Country | Share of U.S. imports | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 90% | 90.0% |
| Bolivia | 6% | 6.0% |
| Other countries | 4% | 4.0% |
Average share of U.S. imports of all forms, 2021–24, as printed by USGS (rounded, so shares may not sum to 100). Other countries are USGS's own grouping.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Boron (February 2026)
- Bolivia44% · $11.8M
- Turkey37% · $9.7M
- Peru10% · $2.8M
- Argentina6% · $1.5M
- Chile2% · $609K
- Malaysia0% · $115K
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Bolivia | 44% · $11.8M | 44.5% |
| Turkey | 37% · $9.7M | 36.6% |
| Peru | 10% · $2.8M | 10.5% |
| Argentina | 6% · $1.5M | 5.6% |
| Chile | 2% · $609K | 2.3% |
| Malaysia | 0% · $115K | 0.4% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 2528; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
- Turkey77% · $32.5M
- Italy7% · $3.0M
- Peru6% · $2.7M
- Chile5% · $2.1M
- Spain1% · $574K
- India1% · $489K
- All other countries3% · $1.2M
| Country | U.S. imports, 2025 | Share of this chart |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 77% · $32.5M | 76.5% |
| Italy | 7% · $3.0M | 7.1% |
| Peru | 6% · $2.7M | 6.3% |
| Chile | 5% · $2.1M | 4.9% |
| Spain | 1% · $574K | 1.4% |
| India | 1% · $489K | 1.2% |
| All other countries | 3% · $1.2M | 2.7% |
U.S. general imports (customs value) in calendar 2025 under HS 2810; countries beyond the top six are grouped. The code can include goods beyond this mineral. The Shift view compares each country's share of 2025 with its share of Jan to Aug 2026 (shares of each period's total).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports by HS code and country (calendar 2025; Jan to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Price
Price, average unit value of combined imports, cost, insurance, and freight, dollars per metric ton
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Boron (February 2026)
Trade and tariffs
Tariff codes and the countries behind U.S. imports and exports.
Trade codes and tariffs
| HTS code | What it covers | Normal rate | Column 2 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2528 | Natural borates and concentrates thereof (whether or not calcined), but not including borates separated from natural brine; natural boric acid containing not more than 85 percent of H3BO3 calculated on the dry weight | Free | Free |
| 2810 | Oxides of boron; boric acids | 1.5% | 8.5% |
Rates from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (USITC, saved 2026-10-26). The normal rate is column 1 general; column 2 applies to countries without normal trade relations. A range means different products under the code have different rates. Section 232, Section 301, emergency tariffs and antidumping or countervailing duties are set in separate notices and are not shown. Look up any code at hts.usitc.gov. These are the main codes for this mineral, not a complete list.
Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, general and column 2 rates (edition current when saved)
U.S. trade by country
U.S. imports in 2025 by source country, code 2810
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Turkey | 77% · $32.5M |
| Italy | 7% · $3.0M |
| Peru | 6% · $2.7M |
| Chile | 5% · $2.1M |
| Spain | 1% · $574K |
| India | 1% · $489K |
U.S. exports in 2025 by destination, code 2810
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| China | 39% · $82.5M |
| Korea, South | 11% · $24.2M |
| Japan | 11% · $23.7M |
| Netherlands | 11% · $22.8M |
| Taiwan | 9% · $18.3M |
| India | 5% · $10.1M |
2528 Natural borates & conc; natural boric acid nov 85%
Top import sources Bolivia 44%, Turkey 37%, Peru 10%
Top export destinations Canada 74%, India 6%, Oman 5%
2810 Oxides of boron; boric acids
Top import sources Turkey 77%, Italy 7%, Peru 6%
Top export destinations China 39%, Korea, South 11%, Japan 11%
U.S. Census Bureau International Trade API, saved 2026-10-26. Imports are general imports (customs value) and exports are total exports, in U.S. dollars. Duty collected is Census's calculated duty on imports for consumption. Figures cover every 10-digit product under the code, so they can include goods beyond this mineral, and the duty shown is not split into Section 232, Section 301 or antidumping duties. Bars show the largest code for each direction. Group rows such as the EU or OECD are left out so no country is counted twice.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade API: U.S. imports and exports by HS code and country (calendar 2025, and January to Aug 2026) (data months 2025-12, 2026-08)
Value chain and risk
Where in the chain the bottlenecks sit, and what other governments and sources say about supply risk.
Value chain: where the bottlenecks are
Mining
Three southern California companies produced borates in 2025, and most boron products used in the United States were made domestically. (U.S. activity)
The source says
“Three companies in southern California produced borates in 2025, and most of the boron products consumed in the United States were manufactured domestically.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Boron (PDF page 60) (2026-02)
Ore processing and primary recovery
No sourced data yet.
Refining and separation
No sourced data yet.
Metal, alloy and chemical
Domestic kernite becomes boric acid and tincal becomes sodium borate; U.S. imports of all forms came 90% from Turkey in 2021-24. (U.S. activity)
The source says
“Kernite was used to produce boric acid, tincal was used to produce sodium borate”
“All forms: Turkey, 90%; Bolivia, 6%; and other, 4%.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Boron (PDF page 60) (2026-02)
Components and end use
The glass and ceramics industries were the leading domestic users of boron products. (U.S. role not stated)
The source says
“the glass and ceramics industries remained the leading domestic users of boron products.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Boron (PDF page 60) (2026-02)
Recycling
USGS calls boron recycling insignificant. (no U.S. activity)
The source says
“Recycling: Insignificant.”
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Boron (PDF page 60) (2026-02)
Pilot. Summaries are ours, from official pages; each quoted passage is checked against the saved page. “Bottleneck” (orange dot) is shown only where the quote shows one country dominating the stage or the United States relying on imports for it. “No sourced data yet” means we have not found a source, not that the stage is unproblematic.
Policy and funding
Federal items we track for this mineral, each linked to its original.
Federal awards already made
E-Vac Magnetics LLC · Department of Defense · $94.1M obligated · started 2023-09-12
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Chemfinity Technologies, Inc. · Department of Energy · $750K obligated · started 2024-07-17
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · Department of Energy · $700K obligated · started 2026-07-14
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
Vulcan Elements Inc. · Department of Defense · started 2026-07-10
Source: usaspending.gov, retrieved 2026-10-29
The 4 largest of 4 AI-tagged awards from USAspending (last 12 months, found by keyword; some are only loosely about this mineral). See all awards for Boron.
Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, USAspending.gov: spending by award (contracts and grants, last 12 months) (award start dates per item)
Data tables
The USGS figures behind the charts. Click a column heading to sort.
Boron: USGS tables
United States
| Measure | Unit | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption | percent | E | E |
| Production | thousand metric tons | W | W |
| Imports for consumption: Refined borax | thousand metric tons | 150 | 120 |
| Imports for consumption: Boric acid | thousand metric tons | 43 | 45 |
| Imports for consumption: Colemanite (calcium borates) | thousand metric tons | 1 | 2 |
| Imports for consumption: Ulexite (sodium borates) | thousand metric tons | 28 | 38 |
| Exports: Boric acid | thousand metric tons | 246 | 260 |
| Exports: Refined borax | thousand metric tons | 655 | 600 |
| Consumption, apparent | thousand metric tons | W | W |
| Price, average unit value of combined imports, cost, insurance, and freight, dollars per metric ton | dollars per metric ton | 574 | 540 |
| Employment, number | number | 1,500 | 1,500 |
World production: Production—All forms (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | W | W |
World production: Production—crude ore (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 160 | 170 |
World production: Production—ulexite (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 2, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Bolivia | 230 | 380 |
| Chile | 470 | 300 |
World production: Production—boric oxide equivalent (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| China | 210 | 230 |
World production: Production—compounds (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 45 | 40 |
World production: Production—crude borates (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Peru | 190 | 220 |
World production: Production—datolite ore (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | 90 | 80 |
World production: Production—refined borates (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 1,800 | 1,500 |
World reserves (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| United States | 48,000 |
World reserves: Reserves—crude ore (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Argentina | NA |
World reserves: Reserves—ulexite (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 2, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Chile | 35,000 |
| Bolivia | NA |
World reserves: Reserves—boric oxide equivalent (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| China | 9,100 |
World reserves: Reserves—compounds (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Germany | NA |
World reserves: Reserves—crude borates (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Peru | 4,000 |
World reserves: Reserves—datolite ore (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Russia | 40,000 |
World reserves: Reserves—refined borates (thousand metric tons; top 6 of 1, plus other countries)
| Country | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Turkey | 950,000 |
U.S. import sources: All forms (percent of imports, 2021–24)
| Country | Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Turkey | 90 |
| Bolivia | 6 |
| Other countries | 4 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Boron (February 2026)