Uncovering the features of boron flows and stocks in China

Boron is an essential mineral resource with extensive applications in the chemical, agricultural, and automotive sectors, primarily due to its distinctive physicochemical characteristics. As one of the world’s leading producers and consumers, China occupies a strategically important position in the global boron supply chain. However, the metabolism features of boron, particularly its flows and stocks, remain uncharacterized in China, limiting the assessment of resource dynamics and the development of effective management strategies. This study applies Dynamic Material Flow Analysis (dMFA) to characterize China’s boron metabolism from 2004 to 2023, capturing recent trends in resource flows and accumulation. The results show that boron consumption has experienced fluctuating growth in China during the last two decades, characterized by the dominance of low-value-added products such as glass and ceramics. Meanwhile, the amount of boron recycled remains very low, but with a great recycling potential. From a trade perspective, China mainly exported low-value-added products, reflecting its insufficient development of high-value-added products. Moreover, China highly depends on importing boron resources, mainly from Turkey and the United States. The import dependence rate reached 70%, indicating a significant supply chain risk. Based on these findings, several policies are proposed to improve the overall boron resource management, including improving boron mining efficiency, expanding boron applications, advancing boron recycling technologies, and establishing a strategic boron reserve system to enhance the stability of the boron supply chain.