Boron Sales Increased Compared to Previous Year

Boron Sales Show Growth Compared to Previous Year Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez announced that with sales of USD 1.03 billion in the previous year, a record in the history of the Turkish Republic was broken in boron and boron product sales, and a sales target of USD 1.1 billion was set for 2022. Turkey, which has the world's largest boron reserves, has increased its sales in recent years through investments in this field. Boron sales, primarily used in the glass industry but also in the fertilizer and ceramics sectors, increased by 52 percent in volume and 56.4 percent in value in 2021 compared to the previous year.

A Record of All Time

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez, in a statement to the press, noted that Turkey sold 2.6 million tons of boron products in 2021, with 2.5 million tons exported, stating, "We generated USD 1.03 billion in sales revenue from this. This is a record of all time." Noting that boron was exported to China by rail from Turkey for the first time in the previous year, Dönmez said, "This development with China continued and we exported boron by rail for the second time as well. These figures are reflected in the numbers. In 2021 boron export figures, China ranked first with 994 thousand tons. The United States ranked second with 311 thousand tons, while India came third with 152 thousand tons."

A New Record on the Horizon

Noting that although it is a record, they will not stop there and are working to sell boron, one of Turkey's most valuable minerals, with greater added value, Dönmez said, "In boron and boron product sales where we broke a record last year, our target this year is USD 1.1 billion. In terms of volume, we are targeting the sale of 2.5 million tons of boron products. The fact that the sales links for these sales are already being made is the clearest indicator of a new record coming in boron." He spoke about the steps to be taken in 2022 in this context, with Minister Dönmez saying: "For example, the boron carbide production facility. Construction continues on this facility, which is planned to produce approximately 1,000 tons per year. We plan to complete it this year and begin performance testing. Of course, not just this facility. The ferraboron production facility is also very important. Particularly for ferraboron products used in steel, neodymium magnet and amorphous metal production, the tender process for the production facility with 800 tons/year capacity continues. This year we are also targeting to lay the foundation of this facility."

New Investments Will Continue

Expressing that every investment in the boron sector returns to the Turkish economy with added value, Minister Dönmez said, "We conducted the first lithium carbonate production at the lithium carbonate production facility. The capacity of this facility is 10 tons per year. The completion of the necessary studies and design work for the establishment of lithium carbonate production facilities with 600 tons/year capacity in Kırka and 100 tons/year capacity in Bandırma by the end of 2022, and subsequently putting the facility construction work out to tender, are also among our plans for this year."