The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently added boron to its 2025 List of Critical Minerals, underscoring boron’s economic and national security importance.
Boron is among 10 newly designated critical minerals included in the updated list, released on November 6. There are 60 minerals identified as critical.
The USGS announcement comes at a time when governments worldwide are evaluating supply chain vulnerabilities and securing access to materials essential for technology, energy, and defense applications.
What is the List of Critical Minerals?
The List of Critical Minerals is a tool for identifying which mineral commodities are experiencing the highest demand and facing serious supply risk.
As required by the Energy Act of 2020, this list must be reviewed and published at least once every three years. Resource assessments are completed for each mineral—tracking production, consumption, and recycling patterns. That information is used to:
- Assess economic and national security risks
- Evaluate business risks
- Guide federal policies to create more resilient supply chains
Why is boron considered a critical mineral in the U.S.?
To be considered critical, a mineral must satisfy three criteria defined by the Energy Act of 2020:
- Essential to economic or national security
- Essential to manufacturing a product of economic or national security interest
- Vulnerable to supply chain disruptions
In terms of supply, boron deposits are concentrated in only a few regions globally, increasing supply risk. The U.S. and Turkey are the world’s largest producers of boron. In the U.S., the largest borate deposit is located in the Mojave Desert, home to our Boron Operations.
Boron’s critical classification also stems from its vital use in essential modern applications. In its announcement, the USGS noted that boron is widely used to strengthen steel and glass and serves key functions in nuclear power.
How does the USGS decision compare to actions worldwide?
The U.S. move mirrors similar efforts by governments worldwide to strengthen oversight of and protect access to valuable materials. Two noteworthy approaches are the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the United Kingdom’s Criticality Assessment.
CRMA
Released in 2024, the CRMA is a set of regulatory acts aimed at reducing the EU’s dependency on imports and strengthening supply chain resilience.
A key provision of the act states that no more than 65% of annual consumption of a strategic raw material can come from a single third country.
Read more about the CRMA
Criticality Assessment
The UK’s Criticality Assessment is a more flexible, advisory framework that evaluates supply risks and informs policy decisions. Like the U.S. list, it examines both economic importance and supply vulnerability, but it does not impose any legal mandates, compliance requirements, or reporting obligations.
Read more on the UK Criticality Assessment
Have more questions about boron or the List of Critical Minerals?
The List of Critical Minerals provides useful information on the state of mineral commodities, including demand and supply risks. These insights can help you prepare and respond effectively to evolving policy, reporting requirements, and sourcing challenges.
Contact our U.S. sales team if you have any questions about the list or about the boron supply chain.
Resources