Ulexite Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By End-Use (Fertilizer, Glass & Ceramics, Chemical, and Others), By Sales Channel (Direct Sale, Indirect Sale), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	1084.08 Thousand Tonnes
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.21%
Fastest Growing Segment	Direct Sale
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	1556.16 Thousand Tonnes

Market Overview

The Global Ulexite Market will grow from 1084.08 Thousand Tonnes in 2025 to 1556.16 Thousand Tonnes by 2031 at a 6.21% CAGR. Ulexite, chemically defined as a hydrated sodium calcium borate mineral, serves as a critical industrial raw material for the production of boron-based compounds, heat-resistant glass, and ceramics. The global market is primarily supported by the enduring demand from the borosilicate glass and fiberglass insulation sectors, where the mineral is utilized as a fluxing agent to lower melting temperatures and enhance thermal durability. Additionally, the agricultural industry acts as a fundamental driver, as ulexite provides an essential, slow-release boron micronutrient that improves crop yield and quality, ensuring consistent consumption levels independent of transient market trends.

A significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the extreme geographical concentration of commercially viable reserves, which creates acute vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. The reliance on a limited number of extraction sites exposes the global market to logistical bottlenecks and price volatility during periods of regional instability. According to the National Boron Research Institute, in 2024, Turkey held approximately 73% of the world's total boron reserves, underscoring the intense global dependence on this single jurisdiction for the majority of primary ulexite supply.

Key Market Drivers

Based on the provided information, here is the market analysis section:

Escalating Global Demand for Boron-Based Agricultural Fertilizers is a primary factor propelling the Ulexite market, as the mineral serves as a crucial source of boron, an essential micronutrient for plant cell wall formation and reproductive growth. Ulexite is increasingly favored in fertilizer formulations due to its solubility profile, which ensures a sustained release of boron, effectively addressing soil deficiencies that stunt crop yield in intensive farming regions. This rising agricultural requirement has spurred significant capacity expansions among major producers to ensure supply security. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, January 2025, in response to this sectoral growth, Turkey inaugurated a new granular boron production facility in September 2024 with an annual capacity of 35,000 tons, explicitly designed to manufacture products for the fertilizer industry.

Concurrently, the Surging Market Demand for Borosilicate Glass Products acts as a robust catalyst, with ulexite utilized extensively as a fluxing agent to reduce melting temperatures and impart thermal shock resistance to the final glass product. This driver is amplified by the expanding application of high-strength glass in solar panels, pharmaceutical packaging, and laboratory equipment, which necessitates consistent high-grade boron feedstock. The scale of this industrial requirement is highlighted by the substantial volume of raw material flow; according to Mining.com, November 2025, Rio Tinto's boron operations alone meet approximately 30% of global demand, a significant portion of which feeds the glass and ceramics manufacturing chains. To meet the aggregate demand from these key sectors, production rates have accelerated; the U.S. Geological Survey reported in January 2025 that by the end of August 2024, borate production in Turkey had increased by 36% compared to the same period in the previous year.

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Key Market Challenges

The geographical concentration of commercially viable reserves acts as a primary obstruction to the Global Ulexite Market. This centralization forces the global supply chain to depend heavily on a limited number of extraction sites, creating significant vulnerability to logistical disruptions and regional instability. When a single region dominates production, the market lacks the flexibility to absorb supply shocks, leading to periods of scarcity that disrupt manufacturing schedules in the glass and agriculture sectors. Consequently, potential buyers often hesitate to commit to long-term usage of ulexite, fearing that raw material insecurity could compromise their production targets and operational continuity.

This dominance by a singular jurisdiction also hampers competitive pricing mechanisms, making the market susceptible to volatility driven by local rather than global economic factors. The lack of alternative supply sources prevents the natural stabilization of costs that typically occurs in diversified markets. According to Eti Maden, in 2024, Turkey maintained a global boron sales market share of approximately 63%. This figure highlights the heavy reliance on one source for the majority of supply, creating a bottleneck that restricts broader market development and sustains high entry barriers for new applications.

Key Market Trends

The Transition to Natural Ulexite in Eco-Friendly Personal Care Products is a rapidly expanding trend as consumers increasingly pivot away from synthetic chemical additives in favor of mineral-based ingredients. This shift is driving the formulation of sustainable detergents and soaps where ulexite derivatives serve as natural cleaning agents and water softeners, effectively replacing phosphate-based compounds. The commercial success of this segment is evident in the sales distribution of major producers who have integrated finished consumer goods into their industrial portfolios. According to Türkiye Today, September 2024, domestic sales data from Eti Maden revealed that 11% of its total distribution in 2023 was allocated specifically to boron-based cleaning products, highlighting the growing consumer uptake of these mineral-derived solutions.

Concurrently, the Emergence of Ulexite as a Feedstock for Boron Nitride Production is reshaping the market's industrial value chain to support high-tech applications such as thermal management in electric vehicles. As demand for high-purity boron precursors intensifies within the electronics and advanced ceramics sectors, mining companies are operationalizing new extraction capabilities to secure a diversified supply for these critical materials. This development in the advanced materials supply chain was marked by a recent commercial milestone; according to 5E Advanced Materials, November 2024, the company successfully delivered its first full truckload shipment of boric acid to a U.S. customer, establishing a key domestic feedstock channel for downstream advanced processing.

Segmental Insights

The Direct Sale segment is currently recognized as the fastest growing category within the Global Ulexite Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the increasing preference among industrial manufacturers to procure raw materials directly from mining companies to minimize procurement costs and eliminate intermediary margins. Furthermore, direct engagement allows buyers in the glass and ceramics sectors to secure customized mineral grades that meet specific technical requirements. This approach also enhances supply chain transparency and stability, factors that are increasingly prioritized by major agricultural and industrial end users seeking consistent quality and reliable delivery schedules.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Ulexite Market primarily due to substantial demand from the established glass and ceramic sectors. The region utilizes significant quantities of ulexite for manufacturing fiberglass insulation and reinforced plastics, driven by robust infrastructure development and strict building codes. Regulatory support for energy efficiency from entities like the Environmental Protection Agency further compels the adoption of high-quality insulation materials containing boron derivatives. Additionally, the advanced agricultural industry in the United States prioritizes ulexite-based micronutrients to address soil deficiencies, securing the region’s dominant status in global consumption and market share.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, the First Environmental Court of Chile issued a ruling that authorized Quiborax S.A. to partially resume its mining operations at the Salar de Surire. The court permitted the company to level affected areas and remove and transport ulexite ore that had already been extracted and stockpiled, modifying a previous paralysis order related to environmental compliance. This regulatory development is critical for the company, a major exporter of ulexite and boric acid, as it allows for the continued supply of borate minerals to international markets while adhering to stricter environmental safeguards.
• In September 2024, the General Directorate of Eti Maden Enterprises inaugurated the Bigadiç Granular Boron Production Facility in Balıkesir, Türkiye. This new facility was established to expand the company's portfolio of high-value agricultural products, specifically producing granular boron fertilizers to address soil micronutrient deficiencies. The launch represents a strategic move to vertically integrate operations and increase the export of value-added products derived from the country's extensive ulexite and colemanite deposits, solidifying Eti Maden's position as a leader in the global borates industry.
• In May 2024, Asos Process Engineering secured a significant contract with Eti Maden, the Turkish state-owned mining and chemicals company, to construct new processing units at the Emet Boron Works. This collaboration involves the establishment of Boric Acid Reaction and Filtration Units, which are designed to enhance the efficiency and capacity of boron processing. This partnership highlights the ongoing investment in infrastructure by leading market players to meet the growing global demand for refined borate products, including those derived from colemanite and ulexite reserves in the region.
• In April 2024, 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. achieved a significant milestone by commencing the initial commercial production of boric acid at its 5E Boron Americas Complex in California. This development marked the company's entry as a new domestic producer in the global market, leveraging its colemanite and borate resources. The successful production from the Small-Scale Facility allowed the company to initiate customer qualification processes, aiming to supply boron-based materials for applications in clean energy, food security, and domestic infrastructure, thereby diversifying the supply chain dominated by major international players.

Key Market Players

• InCide Technologies Inc.
• Eti Maden
• American Borate Company
• Minera Santa Rita S.R.L.
• Bisley & Company Pty Ltd
• Amalgamated Metal Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (AMC)

By End-Use	By Sales Channel	By Region
Fertilizer Glass & Ceramics Chemical and Others	Direct Sale Indirect Sale	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Ulexite Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Ulexite Market, By End-Use:

• Fertilizer
• Glass & Ceramics
• Chemical
• and Others

• Ulexite Market, By Sales Channel:

• Direct Sale
• Indirect Sale

• Ulexite Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE