Boron: Movement

Why Bolivia ranks second in borate exports

What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

Natural borates trade under HS 2528. In 2024 exports were worth $416 million, with Turkey supplying 57.2%, Bolivia 23.8% and Argentina 6.5%. Imports of $488 million went mainly to China (32.1%), Brazil (21.3%) and India (11.3%). China has low-grade reserves and rising demand. The United States trades mostly refined products under other codes. In 2025 it exported about 600,000 t of refined borax, mainly to China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia, and 260,000 t of boric acid, led by China and the Netherlands. Turkey supplied 90% of US borate imports in 2021-24.

Main trade routes, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.

Natural borates · HS 2528

World exports 2024 $415.7 m sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $488.5 m sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Turkey 57.2% Bolivia 23.8% Argentina 6.5% Austria 3.3% Chile 2.3% Netherlands 2.1% Top importers, share of value China 32.1% Brazil 21.3% India 11.3% United States 5.4% Taiwan (Other Asia, nes) 2.7% Indonesia 2.6% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.