Resumen de Rio Tinto: : Global outlook for borates

Industrial Minerals

• Rio Tinto Minerals (RTM), also known in its borates capacity as US Borax Inc., has a global footprint with a tier one borate mine at Boron, California, US. The mine has expansion optionality and RTM also manages identified additional resources in the state, together with a further project in Serbia.

  RTM estimates global demand for borates will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 5% over the next five-year period. Demand for the major refined products, sodium pentaborate (5mol) and boric acid (BA), will be driven primarily by the growth for BSG, frits for ceramic glazes, insulation and agriculture.

  Good product stewardship across the borate industry is a key priority and is required to ensure borate products can continue to be used and sold throughout global markets. RTM's product stewardship experts have been called on by regulatory authorities to provide expert opinion and testimony on borate science and toxicology and RTM currently holds the presidency of the world's only borate industry association, based in Europe.