Boron Fertilizers: Borax, Boric Acid, Granular Boron 15% & Disodium Octaborate

Borax deca/pentahydrate, boric acid, granular boron 15% B and 20.8% B octaborate | Türkiye and US origins

Boron is sold by its boron content and by how it dissolves. Borax decahydrate (Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O) carries 11.3% B, borax pentahydrate about 15% B, boric acid (H₃BO₃) 16.5% B, and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate 20.5–20.8% B (67% B₂O₃), the fast-dissolving grade made by reacting borax with boric acid and sold for foliar and fertigation programmes. Granular boron 15% B is borax pentahydrate screened to about 2.8 mm (SGN 280, −4/+14 mesh) with no coating or filler, made for bulk blenders so the boron granule travels with the NPK rather than segregating in the bag or the spreader. Typical applications are about 1.1 kg of actual boron per hectare, so a tonne of 15% B granular treats roughly 135 hectares; the margin between deficiency and toxicity is narrow, which is why the blender wants an assayed, uniform granule rather than a mixed powder. In oil palm, boron is described by the potash producers as the most important micronutrient, needed for root development, cell wall formation, pollination and fruit development; oilseeds, legumes and cotton are the other crops most often written into boron programmes.

Supply is concentrated. Türkiye holds about 73% of the world's known borate deposits and the state producer Eti Maden held about 47% of global borate production in 2012, with plants at Bandırma (boric acid, octaborate), Kırka, Emet and Bigadiç; the US industry works the California deposits, and Chile, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia produce boric acid from Andean salars. Trade data show the split: 2023 exports of borates (HS 2840) were about USD 716 million, led by the United States (62%), the Netherlands (7.4%, re-export), China (5.0%) and Türkiye (4.4%), while 2024 UN Comtrade reporting of boric acid (HS 2810) was led by the United States (48.1%), Chile (19.8%), Peru (6.5%), the Netherlands (4.4%) and Argentina (4.4%). CBIL brokers boron fertilizers against an SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas certificate of analysis for B or B₂O₃ content, particle size and heavy metals, with the certificate of origin, in 25 kg bags palletised in containers and 1,000 kg jumbo bags. Prices are negotiated per MT on grade and pack.

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Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.