For the Quarter Ending June 2025
North America
• Quarter-over-Quarter Change: The Borax Pentahydrate Price Index in the U.S. declined by 11.8% in Q2 2025.
• Domestic production remained stable throughout the quarter, but improved operational efficiency and steady upstream feedstock availability (Sodium Tetraborate) reduced overall production costs. High inventories accumulated due to consistent output and weak off-take.
• Demand weakened across major end-use sectors, particularly construction, glass, and FMCG, with seasonal weather and macroeconomic pressures curbing activity. The Borax Pentahydrate Demand Outlook remained cautious due to conservative purchasing behavior.
• Export volumes to India and Europe dipped sharply due to trade uncertainties and inflation, intensifying the supply overhang. Price competition in global markets further pushed U.S. sellers to discount.
• Overall, the market witnessed a downward trend in the Borax Pentahydrate Price Index, driven by soft demand, healthy supply, and global pricing pressures.
Why Did the Borax Pentahydrate Price Change in July 2025 in North America?
In July, Borax Pentahydrate prices in North America continued to decline due to persistent oversupply, subdued export orders, and slow recovery in the construction and detergent sectors. The Borax Pentahydrate Price Forecast remains bearish unless a significant rebound in offtake materializes.
Europe
• Quarter-over-Quarter Change: The Borax Pentahydrate Price Index in Turkey declined by 4.8% in Q2 2025.
• Turkish manufacturers maintained steady production levels, but cost-side pressures escalated in June due to energy inflation and currency depreciation. A brief maintenance shutdown added strain on the local supply in late Q2.
• Demand was mixed—weak from glass and ceramics early in the quarter, but picked up in agriculture and detergents by June. Strong export orders from Asia and Europe further tightened supply.
• Depreciation of the Turkish lira made imports expensive and increased cost-push inflation in local production. Exporters leveraged limited availability and rising demand to hike prices.
• Overall, the Borax Pentahydrate Price Index in Europe showed a recovery by the end of Q2, rebounding from earlier losses as export momentum and cost pressures drove June prices higher.
Why Did the Borax Pentahydrate Price Change in July 2025 in Europe?
In July, prices showed a minor increase due to residual tightness in supply and continued strong international demand, especially from India and Southeast Asia. Currency dynamics and firm export demand supported the Borax Pentahydrate Price Forecast.
Asia Pacific
• Quarter-over-Quarter Change: The Borax Pentahydrate Price Index in India dipped marginally by 1.0% in Q2 2025.
• While domestic production remained steady, India relied heavily on imports, which were disrupted in June due to port congestion in Europe and reduced volumes from the U.S. This created a temporary supply crunch.
• Strong consumption from rural FMCG and detergents offset the slowdown in the construction and glass sectors, particularly during the early monsoon period. Pre-election incentives boosted rural demand.
• The weakening Indian rupee raised the landed cost of imports. Suppliers from Turkey and the Netherlands struggled with logistics, while U.S. imports declined, tightening availability.
• Overall, the Borax Pentahydrate Price Index in APAC remained relatively stable with an upward bias in June due to firm rural demand and constrained supply.
Why Did the Borax Pentahydrate Price Change in July 2025 in APAC?
In July, prices remained elevated due to lingering import delays, strong rural demand, and high feedstock costs. The Borax Pentahydrate Production Cost Trend stayed firm as import substitution remained limited.
South America
• Quarter-over-Quarter Change: The Borax Pentahydrate Price Index in Bolivia dropped by 4.0% in Q2 2025.
• Bolivia’s domestic production remained modest. Reliance on imports from Chile and Argentina made the market vulnerable to transport bottlenecks and high fuel prices, which elevated delivery costs in June.
• Demand stayed steady in agriculture and industrial sectors (e.g., glass, ceramics), though construction demand varied due to fiscal constraints and weather impacts.
• In June, cross-border logistical issues and rising regional demand led to a temporary supply squeeze, allowing producers to lift prices.
• Overall, the Borax Pentahydrate Price Index in South America showed a recovery in late Q2, bouncing back from April-May softness amid improving market fundamentals.
Why Did the Borax Pentahydrate Price Change in July 2025 in South America?
In July, prices increased slightly, supported by continued tight logistics, rising regional demand, and limited local production. The Borax Pentahydrate Price Forecast indicates a stable-to-bullish outlook barring major import relief.
For the Quarter Ending March 2025
North America
During the first quarter of 2025, the North American Borax Pentahydrate market witnessed a price decline of 6% compared to the previous quarter, with prices falling through January and February before a modest upturn in March.
January’s decline was driven by reduced sodium tetraborate feedstock costs and lower export prices from major suppliers such as Bolivia and Turkey. Despite renewed strength in US manufacturing, subdued demand from the agrochemical sector limited price stability. February continued the downward trend, as weak construction activity and softer global demand added pressure. Enhanced logistics and lower production costs increased supply, further influencing prices. Meanwhile, the personal care sector offered some resilience with consistent demand.
In March, prices saw a slight rebound supported by tighter domestic supply and steady demand from key downstream sectors, including ceramics, agriculture, and glass. Seasonal agricultural activity also contributed to the firming market. Despite the late-month recovery, Q1 ended with a net decrease, shaped by early supply-side relief and uneven sectoral demand.
APAC
During the first quarter of 2025, the APAC Borax Pentahydrate market witnessed a price surge of 3% compared to the previous quarter, with notable gains in January and March and stability in February. In January, prices in India rose due to higher upstream sodium tetraborate costs and strong demand from the FMCG and personal care sectors. Global supply chain disruptions, particularly delays related to the Suez Canal, further tightened supply and added upward pressure on prices. In February, prices stabilized as production costs eased and imports from Turkey and the USA helped maintain an adequate supply. Demand from the fertilizer and personal care sectors remained steady, while the glass and construction sectors showed limited activity. In March, prices increased again as domestic production levels failed to meet growing demand from downstream sectors like glass, ceramics, and agriculture. Tight global supply and elevated import costs, especially from the USA, contributed to the rise. Overall, the quarter closed with a firm upward trend driven by demand strength and fluctuating supply dynamics across the region.
Europe
During the first quarter of 2025, the European Borax Pentahydrate market experienced a decline of 3.5% compared to the previous quarter, with consistent declines observed throughout January, February, and March. In January, Turkey—a key regional producer—saw prices fall due to weakened demand from domestic manufacturing sectors, including chemicals and beauty products. Despite rising sodium tetraborate feedstock costs, global demand contraction, particularly from China and India, and disruptions in trade routes like the Suez Canal added complexity to supply chains without significantly impacting local availability. In February, lower upstream costs helped reduce production expenses, while existing inventories and unchanged freight rates supported market stability. However, global demand remained weak, and construction-related borate consumption slowed further. March continued the bearish momentum, with prices declining amid subdued demand from key downstream sectors such as ceramics, construction, and detergents. Despite stable production and ample supply, inflationary concerns and cautious consumer spending limited market activity. This balance of steady supply and weak demand drove prices down across the quarter in the European market.
South America
During the first quarter of 2025, the South American Borax Pentahydrate market experienced a price decline of 3.5% compared to the previous quarter, driven by a combination of stable supply and weakening demand across key sectors such as ceramics and agriculture. In Bolivia, effective import operations ensured ample inventories despite global trade disruptions, alleviating supply-side pressure. At the same time, the country's increasing focus on lithium production shifted industrial attention and procurement away from borax. Although the glass industry maintained steady consumption, it proved insufficient to counterbalance the broader market slowdown. In February, prices continued to drop as upstream sodium tetraborate costs decreased. Despite a stable domestic supply, demand from ceramics and agriculture remained limited due to economic challenges and cautious industrial spending. By March, weak regional demand and reduced export interest further intensified downward pressure. With elevated inventories and sluggish consumption across Latin America, suppliers were compelled to lower offers, reinforcing the market's overall bearish trend throughout the first quarter.
For the Quarter Ending December 2024
North America
During the fourth quarter of 2024, the North American Borax Pentahydrate market witnessed a price surge of 4% compared to the previous quarter. This upward trend was primarily driven by an increased downstream agricultural demand. The onset of the fall plantation season in the USA significantly boosted demand for Borax Pentahydrate, particularly in October.
This initial increase in demand intensified as the quarter progressed. Hurricane Helen in October disrupted supply chains, impacting the availability of raw materials and creating logistical challenges. Furthermore, escalating Sodium Tetraborate prices, a key input for Borax Pentahydrate production, significantly increased manufacturing costs during December 2024.
Global shipping disruptions, including labor strikes and the Suez Canal suspension, led to a 15% surge in transpacific freight rates in December, further elevating costs. Container shipping lines were imposing emergency surcharges in anticipation of potential disruptions at US East Coast ports due to impending strikes during December. Simultaneously, the arrival of the mid-crop season in the USA in December further intensified demand for Borax Pentahydrate, as agricultural activities peaked.
APAC
In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Borax Pentahydrate prices in the APAC region showcased an upward trajectory of 2% as compared to the previous quarter. In October 2024, the demand for Borax Pentahydrate started to increase from the downstream agriculture sector due to the plantation season of Rabi in India. However, despite a recovery in demand, the prices of Borax Pentahydrate remained stable in October due to cheaper freight charges which offset the uptrend. However, as the quarter progressed, the demand from the downstream agriculture sector surged significantly. Increased feedstock Sodium Tetraborate prices significantly impacted Borax Pentahydrate production costs during December 2024. Global shipping disruptions, including Yemen-based militant attacks and the Suez Canal suspension, led to a 15% surge in transpacific freight rates in December. While the immediate impact on the Indian market was limited, the overall increase in ocean freight rates since the Red Sea Crisis added to supply chain costs which made the imported Borax Pentahydrate prices expensive during this timeframe.
Europe
Borax Pentahydrate prices in the European region experienced a modest 2% increase during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the preceding quarter. The onset of the plantation season in October spurred an initial rise in demand from the agricultural sector in Turkey. However, this upward trend was temporarily countered by a decline in freight charges, leading to an overall price decrease in Borax Pentahydrate during that month. As the quarter progressed, agricultural demand surged significantly, exerting upward pressure on prices. Concurrently, escalating costs for Sodium Tetraborate, a crucial feedstock, significantly impacted the production costs of Borax Pentahydrate. Furthermore, global shipping disruptions, notably exacerbated by militant attacks in Yemen, resulted in a 15% surge in transpacific freight rates in December. Although the immediate impact on the Turkish market was limited, the overall increase in ocean freight rates stemming from the ongoing Red Sea Crisis contributed to a rise in supply chain costs, ultimately driving up the prices of imported Borax Pentahydrate during December 2024.
FAQs
1. What is the current price trend of Borax Pentahydrate?
As of July 2025, the Borax Pentahydrate Price Index exhibited a bullish trend across most regions. In North America, prices began to rise after earlier inventory drawdowns and improving export demand. Europe, particularly Turkey, saw stronger pricing supported by tight supply and robust export activity. India recorded price increases due to port delays, elevated upstream costs, and steady rural FMCG demand.
2. Who are the top Borax Pentahydrate producers in the United States?
Leading producers include Rio Tinto (U.S. Borax), Eti Maden (via U.S. trade arms), and American Borate Company, supplying primarily to detergents, agriculture, and glass sectors.
3. What is the Borax Pentahydrate Production Cost Trend?
Production costs declined in the U.S. due to lower Sodium Tetraborate prices, but increased in Turkey and India due to currency pressures and rising upstream input costs.
4. What is the Borax Pentahydrate Demand Outlook for 2025?
Demand is expected to stay resilient in the FMCG and agriculture sectors, particularly in India and South America, while recovery in construction and ceramics will influence market trends in North America and Europe through H2 2025.
