Abstract
The Economics of Boron, 11th edition 2006
The new Roskill report on the boron industry will be published in April 2006.
It will provide up-to-date market analysis of resources, production,
consumption, end-use market trends, international trade and prices.
Like all Roskill reports, this new edition of The Economics of Boron will give
you a completely impartial industry overview. Our expert researchers have made
a thorough and objective analysis of all available data from the world's most
reliable sources, including a large and invaluable network of industry
contacts. That's why the breadth, depth, accuracy and expertise of our
research is unrivalled.
This report offers you in-depth, independent analysis of the current and
future supply, demand from end-use markets, and the implications these
developments are likely to have on prices in the future, including:
- Estimated global consumption of boron rose to a record 1.8Mt B2O3 in 2005
following a period of strong growth in demand from Asia, Europe and North
America. Boron mining and refining capacities are considered to be adequate to
meet expected levels of growth through the next decade.
- The form in which boron is consumed has changed in recent years. The use
of beneficiated ores like colemanite has declined following concerns over
arsenic content. Consumers have moved towards the use of refined borates or
boric acid that have a lower pollutant content.
- Increasing demand for boric acid has led a number of producers to invest
in additional capacity. Eti Mine opened a new 100,000tpy capacity boric acid
plant at Emet in 2003. Rio Tinto increased the capacity of its Boron plant
from 260,000tpy in 2003 to 310,000tpy by May 2005, with plans to grow this to
366,000tpy in 2006.
- Chinese boron producers have been unable to meet rapidly growing demand
for high quality borates. This has led to imports of disodium tetraborate
growing by a hundredfold between 2000 and 2005 and boric acid imports
increasing by 28%py over the same period.
- The rise in global demand has been driven by high rates of growth in
fibreglass and borosilicate production. A rapid increase in the manufacture of
reinforcement grade fibreglass in Asia with a consequent increase in demand
for borates has offset the development of boron free reinforcement grade
fibreglass in Europe and the USA. The recent rises in energy prices can be
expected to lead to greater use of insulation grade fibreglass, with
consequent growth in the use of boron.
- Roskill forecasts that world demand for boron will grow by 3.4%py to reach
21Mt by 2010. The highest growth in demand is expected to be in Asia where
demand could rise by an average 5.7%py.
All the latest Roskill reports are available in hard and electronic format and
can be purchased through the secure server on our website, www.roskill.com, or
by returning the completed order form to us.
The key trends, issues and developments in the market are now analysed in this
major new report from Roskill. It provides a clear insight into all areas of
the industry and an authoritative analysis of the prospects for the future.
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