Boron: Stocks
One country, most of the world's listed reserves
One country, most of the world's listed reserves What this tab covers How much is left and how much is held. For minerals and energy: reserves, current output, years of supply and recycling for the top five countries. For farm commodities: production, ending stocks and stocks-to-use for the top five producers (USDA, October 2026). It also covers inventories and stockpiles.Top five countries: reserves, output and years of supply
| Country | Reserves kt (USGS reports reserves without a common basis) | Current output kt, form varies by country (2025e) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 950,000 | 1,500 | – | n/a |
| United States | 48,000 | – | – | n/a |
| Russia | 40,000 | 80 | – | n/a |
| Chile | 35,000 | 300 | – | n/a |
| China | 9,100 | 230 | – | n/a |
Recycling
Years are not computed because output is reported in different forms (Turkey refined borates, Russia datolite ore, Chile ulexite, China B2O3 equivalent; US withheld) and USGS gives no world total. Recycling is insignificant in the US (USGS 2026); the EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 1% (EU CRM 2023). Turkey holds about 87% of the reserves USGS lists by country.
USGS cannot total world reserves, but Turkey reports 950 Mt, about 87% of the reserves listed by country. The United States (48 million t), Russia (40 million t) and Chile (35 million t) follow. No reserve life can be computed because units differ. Resources are adequate for the foreseeable future. Recycling is insignificant. Boron is dissipated in glass, soaps and soil, and the EU end-of-life recycling input rate is just 1%. There is no US stockpile.
Recycling
End-of-life recycling input rate in the EU: 1% of demand met from post-consumer scrap (EU CRM study 2023).Insignificant.