Boric acid, also known as hydrogen borate or boracic acid, is a white, crystalline compound composed of boron, oxygen, and hydrogen (H₃BO₃). The boric acid market encompasses the global production, distribution, and consumption of boric acid. The widespread application of boric acid makes it a versatile and unique compound typically used in diverse industrial, medical, and household applications. The global boric acid market value stood at US$1.00 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach US$1.38 billion by 2029.
The widespread application of boric acid makes it a versatile and unique compound typically used in diverse industrial, medical, and household applications. Boric acid finds applications in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, flame retardants, wood preservation, and nuclear power. The expanding product applications across various industries, growing demand in agriculture and construction sectors, increasing use in high-tech applications, and the bolstering pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors are some of the major factors propelling the market growth.
In addition, rapid industrialization, growing consumer preference for environmentally friendly products, increasing global recognition of boric acid's antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, rise in demand for the renewable energy industry, increasing use of boron in fibreglass insulation, growing awareness about the benefits of boric acid in skin care products and eye drops, and increasing adoption of sustainable agriculture practices will continue to boost the growth of global boric acid market in the forecasted period. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.42% over the projected period of 2024-2029.
By Grade: The report provides the bifurcation of the global boric acid market into three segments on the basis of grade, namely, industrial, pharmaceutical, and other grades. Industrial grade is the largest segment of global boric acid market owing to rapid industrialization, increasing focus on fire safety in end user industries, rising demand for the industrial grade boric acid in the glass, textile, and construction activities, increasing focus on the use of environmentally friendly materials by manufacturers seeking compliance with environmental regulations, positive expansion of the metallurgical industry, and rise in global infrastructure construction.
Pharmaceutical grade is the fastest growing segment of global boric acid market as a result of rising prevalence of infections and skin conditions, positively growing pharmaceutical industry, growing focus on female hygiene and infection control, increasing awareness among consumers about the benefits of boric acid in personal care & healthcare products, and growing trend towards use of natural and sustainable ingredients in pharmaceuticals.
By End User: The global boric acid market can be divided into six segments, on the basis of end user, namely, fiberglass and tiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, agriculture, flame retardants, and others. Fiberglass and tiles is the largest and fastest growing segment of global boric acid market as a result of increasing adoption of fiberglass in automotive and electronics industry, growing awareness of sustainable building practices, increasing preference for premium and decorative tiles in home renovation and remodeling projects, increasing focus on fire retardancy, ongoing technological advancements in tile manufacturing, and booming construction industry in emerging markets such as China, India, and Southeast Asia.
By Region: The report provides insight into the global boric acid market based on regions namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. Asia Pacific is the largest and fastest growing region of global boric acid market owing to rapid urbanization and population growth, a strong regional consumer base of borates, rapid industrialization and agricultural activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, an increasing adoption rate of boric acid in construction sector, the region’s extensive industrial operations, high boric acid production and consumption rates in countries like China, positively growing electronics industry and expanding usage of fiberglass in automotive and pharmaceutical industries.
Asia Pacific boric market is divided into five regions on the basis of geographical operations, namely, China, Japan, India, South Korea, and rest of Asia Pacific, where the China boric acid market accounted for largest revenue share owing to region’s access boron reserves, booming chemical industry, growing demand for high-quality borosilicate glass in manufacturing sector, rapidly growing healthcare sector, fast-paced urbanization and infrastructure development in the region, large population and growing consumer base, strong logistics and supply chain infrastructure, and country’s dominance in glass and ceramics production.
North America boric acid market has been positively growing over the years, as a result of fast urbanization, robust chemical industry, strong consumer preference for eco-friendly & sustainable products, increase in demand for boric acid in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, region’s diverse agricultural landscape with strong focus on high-value crops, increased consumer focus on personal care, and well-established industrial foundation and use of cutting-edge technology across various end user industries.
By Exports: The boric acid market exports trade value for countries like the US, Chile, Netherlands, and Argentina increased from 2021 to 2023, owing to increased demand from end user industries operating at full capacity following pandemic restrictions, positive economic growth in key markets, reduced trade restrictions in the post-COVID period, increased boric acid prices, and increased global investments in renewable energy. Also, as global trade began recovering, many countries diversified their raw materials suppliers for boric acid, increasing export opportunities for countries like the US, Chile, Netherlands, and Argentina.
However, as a result of fluctuating boron prices, China and European Union experienced a fall in export trade value during the period 2021-2023. Also, market uncertainty and elevated interest rates influenced the continued decline in the German construction industry, resulting in a reduced purchasing activity and downsizing by construction businesses. This resulted in a reduced demand for boric acid during the period. The fluctuations in pricing & demand underscored the dynamic nature of the boric acid market in Europe.
By Imports: The boric acid market imports trade value for countries like China, Brazil, Japan, Germany, and European Union, increased from 2021 to 2023, owing to increasing micronutrient demand in fertilizers in countries like China and Brazil with large agricultural sectors, higher consumer spending, increasing consumer awareness of hygiene and pest control after the pandemic, and escalating demand from the downstream industries i.e. pharmaceuticals, fiberglass, agriculture and construction sectors. However, the US, Japan, Germany, and European Union, experienced a fall in Boric acid imports quantity during the period 2021-2023.
Boric price faced a decline in the European market primarily driven by the low consumption and ample stock holding by the domestic players. This resulted in lower imports from the major exporters like Turkey and US. Also, red sea crisis forced Turkey to slow down its calcium borate export to the major consumers Asian pacific countries like China and Taiwan.
In addition, boric acid’s fire retardant properties make it an indispensable component in a wide range of insulating materials, especially in areas with strict fire safety codes. Therefore, growing need for fire-resistant insulation products, and ongoing development of advanced insulation technologies will continue to boost the growth of global boric acid market in the forecasted period.
Challenges: However, the global boric acid market growth would be negatively impacted by various challenges such as, fluctuating raw material prices, stringent government regulations, etc. The cost of raw materials used in boric acid manufacturing can be unpredictable, depending on factors such as mining activities, geopolitical difficulties, and market demand.
Fluctuations in the cost of these minerals, often driven by changes in international trade policies, availability, and mining costs, directly affects the stability of boric acid pricing, as when the prices of boron minerals rises, the cost of producing boric acid also increases, potentially decreasing its competitiveness compared to alternative products.
Trends: The global boric acid market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecasted period, owing to, emerging applications in personal care and cosmetics industry, growing focus on use of environmentally friendly materials, emerging applications in end user industries, consumption of boric acid in eco-friendly pest control, etc. Boric acid is a naturally occurring, non-toxic mineral compound with a relatively low environmental impact compared to many synthetic chemicals. As a result, increasing number of industries, particularly, agriculture, personal care, and construction industries, are shifting towards the use of eco friendly boric acid in products such as insulation materials, wood preservatives, and fertilizers.
Also, boric acid is largely used as a pH regulator in many cosmetic products like toners, cleansers, and masks. The compound's ability to act as a pH adjuster and preservative largely contributes to its popularity in cosmetics formulation, as a stable pH is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of skincare products and preventing skin irritation. In addition, boric acid exhibit mild exfoliating properties that help remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture.
The wipes are plant-based and contain a unique pH-balanced complex that matches a healthy pH based upon the natural range of a woman’s external intimate area. Moreover, in 2023, pH-D Feminine Health announced the launch of the Boric Acid Vaginal Moisturizing Gel to its existing portfolio of holistic feminine health products available exclusively at Walgreens nationwide.
The widespread application of boric acid makes it a versatile and unique compound typically used in diverse industrial, medical, and household applications. Boric acid finds applications in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, flame retardants, wood preservation, and nuclear power. The expanding product applications across various industries, growing demand in agriculture and construction sectors, increasing use in high-tech applications, and the bolstering pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors are some of the major factors propelling the market growth.
In addition, rapid industrialization, growing consumer preference for environmentally friendly products, increasing global recognition of boric acid's antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, rise in demand for the renewable energy industry, increasing use of boron in fibreglass insulation, growing awareness about the benefits of boric acid in skin care products and eye drops, and increasing adoption of sustainable agriculture practices will continue to boost the growth of global boric acid market in the forecasted period. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.42% over the projected period of 2024-2029.
Market Segmentation Analysis:
By Purity: The report provides the bifurcation of the global boric acid market into two segments on the basis of purity namely, less than 99%, and more than 99%.The demand for ≥99% purity boric acid is driven by its unparalleled efficacy and essential role in cutting-edge applications, ensuring its continued market dominance and growth trajectory. On the basis of purity, more than 99% boric acid is the largest and fastest growing segment of the global boric acid market owing to rapidly expanding end user industries, increasing demand and production of high-performance ceramics, positive growing solar energy sector, surging demand for borosilicate glass in kitchenware and industrial equipment, increasing use of micronutrients in agriculture, rising number of large-scale infrastructure projects in emerging economies, and rising consumer demand for premium skincare products and cosmetics.By Grade: The report provides the bifurcation of the global boric acid market into three segments on the basis of grade, namely, industrial, pharmaceutical, and other grades. Industrial grade is the largest segment of global boric acid market owing to rapid industrialization, increasing focus on fire safety in end user industries, rising demand for the industrial grade boric acid in the glass, textile, and construction activities, increasing focus on the use of environmentally friendly materials by manufacturers seeking compliance with environmental regulations, positive expansion of the metallurgical industry, and rise in global infrastructure construction.
Pharmaceutical grade is the fastest growing segment of global boric acid market as a result of rising prevalence of infections and skin conditions, positively growing pharmaceutical industry, growing focus on female hygiene and infection control, increasing awareness among consumers about the benefits of boric acid in personal care & healthcare products, and growing trend towards use of natural and sustainable ingredients in pharmaceuticals.
By End User: The global boric acid market can be divided into six segments, on the basis of end user, namely, fiberglass and tiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, agriculture, flame retardants, and others. Fiberglass and tiles is the largest and fastest growing segment of global boric acid market as a result of increasing adoption of fiberglass in automotive and electronics industry, growing awareness of sustainable building practices, increasing preference for premium and decorative tiles in home renovation and remodeling projects, increasing focus on fire retardancy, ongoing technological advancements in tile manufacturing, and booming construction industry in emerging markets such as China, India, and Southeast Asia.
By Region: The report provides insight into the global boric acid market based on regions namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world. Asia Pacific is the largest and fastest growing region of global boric acid market owing to rapid urbanization and population growth, a strong regional consumer base of borates, rapid industrialization and agricultural activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, an increasing adoption rate of boric acid in construction sector, the region’s extensive industrial operations, high boric acid production and consumption rates in countries like China, positively growing electronics industry and expanding usage of fiberglass in automotive and pharmaceutical industries.
Asia Pacific boric market is divided into five regions on the basis of geographical operations, namely, China, Japan, India, South Korea, and rest of Asia Pacific, where the China boric acid market accounted for largest revenue share owing to region’s access boron reserves, booming chemical industry, growing demand for high-quality borosilicate glass in manufacturing sector, rapidly growing healthcare sector, fast-paced urbanization and infrastructure development in the region, large population and growing consumer base, strong logistics and supply chain infrastructure, and country’s dominance in glass and ceramics production.
North America boric acid market has been positively growing over the years, as a result of fast urbanization, robust chemical industry, strong consumer preference for eco-friendly & sustainable products, increase in demand for boric acid in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, region’s diverse agricultural landscape with strong focus on high-value crops, increased consumer focus on personal care, and well-established industrial foundation and use of cutting-edge technology across various end user industries.
By Exports: The boric acid market exports trade value for countries like the US, Chile, Netherlands, and Argentina increased from 2021 to 2023, owing to increased demand from end user industries operating at full capacity following pandemic restrictions, positive economic growth in key markets, reduced trade restrictions in the post-COVID period, increased boric acid prices, and increased global investments in renewable energy. Also, as global trade began recovering, many countries diversified their raw materials suppliers for boric acid, increasing export opportunities for countries like the US, Chile, Netherlands, and Argentina.
However, as a result of fluctuating boron prices, China and European Union experienced a fall in export trade value during the period 2021-2023. Also, market uncertainty and elevated interest rates influenced the continued decline in the German construction industry, resulting in a reduced purchasing activity and downsizing by construction businesses. This resulted in a reduced demand for boric acid during the period. The fluctuations in pricing & demand underscored the dynamic nature of the boric acid market in Europe.
By Imports: The boric acid market imports trade value for countries like China, Brazil, Japan, Germany, and European Union, increased from 2021 to 2023, owing to increasing micronutrient demand in fertilizers in countries like China and Brazil with large agricultural sectors, higher consumer spending, increasing consumer awareness of hygiene and pest control after the pandemic, and escalating demand from the downstream industries i.e. pharmaceuticals, fiberglass, agriculture and construction sectors. However, the US, Japan, Germany, and European Union, experienced a fall in Boric acid imports quantity during the period 2021-2023.
Boric price faced a decline in the European market primarily driven by the low consumption and ample stock holding by the domestic players. This resulted in lower imports from the major exporters like Turkey and US. Also, red sea crisis forced Turkey to slow down its calcium borate export to the major consumers Asian pacific countries like China and Taiwan.
Market Dynamics:
Growth Drivers: The global boric acid market has been rapidly growing over the past few years, due to factors such as increasing availability of boron, rapidly expanding construction industry, increasing use in healthcare and pharmaceutical sector, surge in demand for insulating materials, rapidly growing glass and textile industry, etc. The rising availability of boron, a key raw material for producing boric acid, has improved the supply chain for manufacturers. With stable and abundant supply of boron, producers are scaling up boric acid production to meet the rising demand across various industries, including glass manufacturing, agriculture, and electronics, boosting the growth of global boric acid market.In addition, boric acid’s fire retardant properties make it an indispensable component in a wide range of insulating materials, especially in areas with strict fire safety codes. Therefore, growing need for fire-resistant insulation products, and ongoing development of advanced insulation technologies will continue to boost the growth of global boric acid market in the forecasted period.
Challenges: However, the global boric acid market growth would be negatively impacted by various challenges such as, fluctuating raw material prices, stringent government regulations, etc. The cost of raw materials used in boric acid manufacturing can be unpredictable, depending on factors such as mining activities, geopolitical difficulties, and market demand.
Fluctuations in the cost of these minerals, often driven by changes in international trade policies, availability, and mining costs, directly affects the stability of boric acid pricing, as when the prices of boron minerals rises, the cost of producing boric acid also increases, potentially decreasing its competitiveness compared to alternative products.
Trends: The global boric acid market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecasted period, owing to, emerging applications in personal care and cosmetics industry, growing focus on use of environmentally friendly materials, emerging applications in end user industries, consumption of boric acid in eco-friendly pest control, etc. Boric acid is a naturally occurring, non-toxic mineral compound with a relatively low environmental impact compared to many synthetic chemicals. As a result, increasing number of industries, particularly, agriculture, personal care, and construction industries, are shifting towards the use of eco friendly boric acid in products such as insulation materials, wood preservatives, and fertilizers.
Also, boric acid is largely used as a pH regulator in many cosmetic products like toners, cleansers, and masks. The compound's ability to act as a pH adjuster and preservative largely contributes to its popularity in cosmetics formulation, as a stable pH is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of skincare products and preventing skin irritation. In addition, boric acid exhibit mild exfoliating properties that help remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture.
Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and Way Forward:
COVID-19 brought in many changes in the world in terms of reduced productivity, loss of life, business closures, closing down of factories and organizations, and shift to an online mode of work. The growth of global boric acid market was negatively impacted during the period 2019-2020, as lockdown policies imposed by the government to prevent the spread of virus forced various boric acid manufacturers and end user industries to either shut down or run low on production capacity, resulting in lower production and demand for boron chemical compounds during the period, 2019-2020.Competitive Landscape:
The global boric acid market is partially consolidated, with majority of regional and domestic players catering to the global demand. The key players of the market are:- 3M Company
- Rio Tinto (U.S. Borax)
- Merck Group
- Gujarat Boron Derivatives Pvt. Ltd.
- Eti Maden Operations General Directorate
- Minera Santa Rita S.R.L. (MSR)
- Rose Mill Co.
- The Chemical Company
- Quiborax
- AG Scientific Holdings LLC
- Kanto Chemical Co.,Inc.
- PhytoTech Labs, Inc.
The wipes are plant-based and contain a unique pH-balanced complex that matches a healthy pH based upon the natural range of a woman’s external intimate area. Moreover, in 2023, pH-D Feminine Health announced the launch of the Boric Acid Vaginal Moisturizing Gel to its existing portfolio of holistic feminine health products available exclusively at Walgreens nationwide.
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Global Market Analysis
4. Regional Market Analysis
5. Impact of COVID-19
6. Market Dynamics
7. Competitive Landscape
8. Company Profiles
List of Figures
Companies mentioned
Some of the key companies profiled in this Global Boric Acid Market report include:- 3M Company
- Rio Tinto (U.S. Borax)
- Merck Group
- Gujarat Boron Derivatives Pvt. Ltd.
- Eti Maden Operations General Directorate
- Minera Santa Rita S.R.L. (MSR)
- Rose Mill Co.
- The Chemical Company
- Quiborax
- AG Scientific Holdings LLC
- Kanto Chemical Co.,Inc.
- PhytoTech Labs, Inc.
Table Information
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of Pages | 139 |
| Published | October 2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2024 - 2029 |
| Estimated Market Value ( USD | $ 1.06 Billion |
| Forecasted Market Value ( USD | $ 1.38 Billion |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate | 5.4% |
| Regions Covered | Global |
| No. of Companies Mentioned | 13 |
