U.S. Borax

Industrial Minerals & Specialty Chemicalsborax.com

U.S. Borax is a wholly-owned Rio Tinto subsidiary that mines and refines borates from its flagship Boron, California open-pit mine, supplying about 30% of global refined borate demand. It serves industrial and agricultural customers across 100 countries via direct sales and 50+ distribution partners.

Company typePrivate
Founded1872
HeadquartersChicago, United States
Headcount501–1,000
GTM typeB2B
OfferingHardware or Manufacturing

What U.S. Borax does

U.S. Borax is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto and the world's leading producer of refined borates, operating since 1872 from the largest known borate deposit at its open-pit mine in Boron, California. From this single flagship asset, plus refining operations in Wilmington (California) and Coudekerque (France), the company supplies approximately 30% of global refined borate demand at roughly 1 million tons of annual capacity. The portfolio spans 19 product brands organized around industrial borates (Optibor boric acid, Firebrake zinc borates, Dehybor, Neobor, Tim-bor wood preservative, Borogard ZB) for glass/fiberglass, polymers, fire retardancy, wood protection, and ceramic glaze applications, and agricultural boron micronutrients (Granubor, Fertibor, Solubor, Liquibor, Zincubor) for crop nutrition. Specialty high-purity grades — Optibor TG (semiconductor/BF3 feedstock) and Optibor BQ (lithium-ion battery cathodes, launched March 2023) — extend the portfolio into electronics and energy storage value chains.

The underlying technology is a multi-step refined borate production process significantly more extensive than raw-mineral processing, supported by an ISO 9001:2015-certified 24/7 Quality Lab performing pre-screening, in-process titration, and finished-product certification, and a Pilot Plant for application R&D and customer formulation assistance. Output quality is differentiated at the hundredth-of-parts-per-million impurity level for high-purity grades.

Revenue is generated through B2B sales of industrial and agricultural borate products, priced via quote-based direct engagement and multi-year supply agreements with annual volume commitments, distributed through a direct global field-sales force with technical marketing experts and a complementary network of more than 50 distribution partners maintaining regional stock points. Customers span seven primary verticals — glass and glass fiber, agriculture, polymers and coatings, wood protection and biocides, ceramics and enamels, electronics/semiconductors, and nuclear energy — across 100 countries and 1,200+ delivery locations.

U.S. Borax firmographics

Firmographics

Name: U.S. Borax
Legal name: U.S. Borax
Website: https://www.borax.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1872
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 501–1,000 employees
Short description: U.S. Borax is a wholly-owned Rio Tinto subsidiary that mines and refines borates from its flagship Boron, California open-pit mine, supplying about 30% of global refined borate demand. It serves industrial and agricultural customers across 100 countries via direct sales and 50+ distribution partners.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

U.S. Borax industry classification

Industry

Product category: Industrial Minerals & Specialty Chemicals
NAICS: Ground or Treated Mineral and Earth Manufacturing (327992)
akta.pro primary industry: Borates Mining (IMAKAGAD)
akta.pro secondary industry: Industrial Minerals Trading (Phosphate, Potash, Sulfur, Borates, Barite, Talc) (IMAKAJAF)

Keywords

Refined borates
Boron compounds
Industrial minerals
Mining and refining
Agricultural fertilizers

Where U.S. Borax is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Chicago
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

U.S. Borax business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components: Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Refined Borate Product Sales: U.S. Borax generates revenue through the sale of refined and specialty borate products including Optibor boric acid, Firebrake zinc borates, Tim-bor wood preservative, Dehybor, Neobor, Borogard ZB, and agricultural products like Solubor, Granubor, Fertibor, and Liquibor. Products are sold directly to industrial customers and through a global network of more than 50 distribution partners.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Multi-year contract	B2B industrial and agricultural product sales

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

U.S. Borax product offering

Product offering

Core offering

U.S. Borax mines, refines, and distributes industrial and specialty borate products (boric acid, zinc borates, sodium borates) and agricultural boron fertilizers. Products are manufactured at the Boron, California open-pit mine and at European production sites, then sold globally to industrial manufacturers and agricultural customers via direct sales and a network of 50+ distribution partners.

Product overview

U.S. Borax is a global leader in refined borates and boron compounds, producing a comprehensive portfolio of industrial and agricultural products. The core industrial product line includes Optibor boric acid, Firebrake zinc borates, Tim-bor wood preservative, Dehybor, Neobor, and boric oxide—each serving distinct applications in glass manufacturing, fiberglass, polymers, fire retardancy, and wood protection. The agricultural portfolio features Granubor, Fertibor, Solubor, Liquibor, Zincubor, Anhybor, and Solubor Flow, providing boron micronutrient solutions for crop nutrition. Specialty products include battery-grade Optibor BQ and technical-grade Optibor TG. Products are available in various forms including powders and granules. U.S. Borax supplies approximately 30% of the world's refined borates from their Boron, California mine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Optibor boric acid

Quantifiable outcome

Quality conformance improvement from 50% to 80% for automotive headlight glass manufacturer through formulation optimization
+4 more outcomes

Companies that use U.S. Borax

Customer profile

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

U.S. Borax technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

U.S. Borax partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

NestecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2023Supplier of Neste MY Renewable Diesel made from sustainably sourced 100% renewable raw materials including used cooking oil and animal fat waste. U.S. Borax used Neste MY Renewable Diesel during initial trial and full transition of heavy machinery fleet.
Rolls-RoycecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for renewable diesel trial collaboration. Worked with U.S. Borax on trialing renewable diesel fuel in haul trucks to determine suitability for open pit mining operations.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with EPA on the transition to renewable diesel as part of decarbonization efforts. EPA supported the initiative as part of environmental protection goals.
State of CaliforniasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing vision and support for renewable diesel transition. California LCFS (Low Carbon Fuel Standard) methodology used for calculating GHG emission reductions.
CR Minerals Company, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for production of pozzolans from waste materials at U.S. Borax facility in Boron, CA. Contributes to decarbonization of concrete through waste utilization.
China National Pharmaceutical Packaging Association (CNPPA)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry association membership for pharmaceutical glass manufacturers in China. Supports proper use of borosilicate glass in pharmaceutical packaging.
GlassTrendsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry association membership supporting glass manufacturing excellence. U.S. Borax member of GlassTrend organization.
China Fibreglass AssociationsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry association membership for fibreglass manufacturers in China. Supports proper use of borates in textile fiberglass production.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

U.S. Borax competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

ICL Group: Israeli specialty minerals and fertilizer company producing potash, phosphate, and specialty compounds. Comparable as a diversified specialty mineral and agricultural input producer serving overlapping industrial and agricultural customers.
Intrepid Potash: U.S. specialty mineral producer focused on potash, langbeinite, and byproducts. Comparable as a North American specialty mineral miner supplying agricultural micronutrients, with overlapping customer channels in fertilizer distribution.
Tronox Holdings: Global integrated producer of titanium dioxide and zircon, with mineral sands mining operations. Comparable as a publicly traded industrial minerals incumbent with vertically integrated mining and processing.
Quimica del Rey (Nutrien): Operates one of the world's largest sulfate of potash plants in Mexico as part of Nutrien. Comparable as a major agricultural micronutrient producer serving global fertilizer markets with overlapping distribution and customer relationships.
Sibelco: Global specialty minerals solutions provider producing silica, nepheline, feldspars, and industrial minerals. Comparable as a large-scale specialty mineral miner and processor supplying industrial glass and ceramics end markets with similar customer profiles.
Compass Minerals: Produces specialty minerals including sulfate of potash, magnesium chloride, and salt for agricultural and industrial uses. Comparable as a diversified specialty mineral incumbent serving overlapping agricultural and industrial customers.

Direct peers

American Borate Company: Mines and markets borate minerals including colemanite and ulexite from sources in California and Turkey. Directly comparable to U.S. Borax as a competing borate mineral supplier serving industrial and agricultural end markets.
Eti Maden: State-owned Turkish mining enterprise and the world's largest borate producer, mining and refining borax, colemanite, and ulexite. Direct head-to-head competitor with U.S. Borax in global refined borate markets across glass, agriculture, and industrial applications.
Searles Valley Minerals: U.S.-based producer of borates, sodium sulfate, and salt from brines in Searles Valley, California. Competes directly with U.S. Borax in North American borate supply, particularly for industrial and agricultural applications.

Others

Brenntag: Global chemical and ingredients distributor. Comparable as one of the large distribution partners and indirect competitors in chemical distribution channels serving similar industrial customers with borates and specialty chemicals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

U.S. Borax compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

U.S. Borax financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

U.S. Borax leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

U.S. Borax subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries3 records

U.S. Borax funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

U.S. Borax M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U.S. Borax

What does U.S. Borax do?

Is U.S. Borax a public or private company?

U.S. Borax is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.

When was U.S. Borax founded?

U.S. Borax was founded in 1872. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.

Where is U.S. Borax based?

U.S. Borax is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.

How does U.S. Borax make money?

One revenue line is on record: refined Borate Product Sales.

Who are U.S. Borax's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are ICL Group, Intrepid Potash, Tronox Holdings, Quimica del Rey (Nutrien), Sibelco and Compass Minerals. Direct peers are American Borate Company, Eti Maden and Searles Valley Minerals. Brenntag is listed as an others.

Does U.S. Borax have an API?

No public API is recorded for U.S. Borax.

What industry is U.S. Borax in?

U.S. Borax's product category is Industrial Minerals & Specialty Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAGAD, Borates Mining, with a secondary code of IMAKAJAF, Industrial Minerals Trading (Phosphate, Potash, Sulfur, Borates, Barite, Talc). Its NAICS code is 327992.