BROMINE

Production The United States was one of four leading bromine producers in the world; the other three leading producers were China, Israel and Jordan. Two companies in Arkansas accounted for all the U.S. production of bromine in 2022. The two bromine companies in the United States accounted for a large percentage of world production capacity. Bromine is one of the leading mineral commodities, in terms of value, produced in Arkansas. Domestic production data for elemental bromine were withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. World production of bromine in 2022, excluding U.S. production, was estimated to be 390 kt, unchanged from that in 2021. Consumption The leading global applications of bromine are for the production of brominated flame retardants and clear brine drilling fluids. Bromine compounds are also used in a variety of other applications, including industrial uses, as intermediates, and for water treatment. Foreign trade According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. imports of bromine and bromine compounds were 46 kt on a gross weight basis in 2022, 35 percent more than the 34.1 kt imported in 2021. The average cost, insurance and freight (c.i.f.) unit value of elemental bromine imports in 2022 was $7.35/kg, 63 percent more than the average unit value of $4.50/kg in 2021. Israel was the leading source of bromine imports into the United States, accounting for 83 percent of the total quantity imported on a gross weight basis. Exports of bromine and bromine compounds in 2022 were 24.5 kt on a gross weight basis, a 29 percent decrease from 34.5 kt on a gross weight basis in 2021. The average unit value of exported elemental bromine in 2022 was $3.56/kg, slightly more than the average unit value of $3.50/kg in 2021. Guyana (22 percent) was the leading destination of bromine exports from the United States followed by Saudi Arabia (19 percent), Canada (14 percent) and United Arab Emirates (10 percent), which together accounted for 65 percent of the total quantity exported on a gross weight basis. Outlook Consumption of bromine will primarily be driven by demand for brominated flame retardants from the appliance, automotive, construction and electronic industries. The amount of clear brine fluids consumed in the oil and natural-gas drilling industry is expected to mirror global changes in oil and natural-gas prices and the number of active drilling rigs.

BROMINE

Authored by:
Emily K. Schnebele

To view the past issues of the UCA magazine you must be a member of SME/UCA.

From sessions to strategy: Revealing long-term and emerging innovation trends in data analytics, intelligent systems and automation

Mining education gets federal boost as industry faces workforce crunch

Critical minerals management on the federal seabed

From sessions to strategy: Revealing long-term and emerging innovation trends in data analytics, intelligent systems and automation

Mining education gets federal boost as industry faces workforce crunch

Critical minerals management on the federal seabed

To view the past issues of the UCA magazine you must be a member of SME/UCA.

BORON

CEMENT

Related Articles

Critical minerals management on the federal seabed

Copper stockpiling, transformation capacity and industrial synchronization in the US

Critical minerals: Technical and policy considerations

Historic day in Washington DC for mining education

From sessions to strategy: Revealing long-term and emerging innovation trends in data analytics, intelligent systems and automation

Mining education gets federal boost as industry faces workforce crunch

Critical minerals management on the federal seabed

From sessions to strategy: Revealing long-term and emerging innovation trends in data analytics, intelligent systems and automation

Mining education gets federal boost as industry faces workforce crunch

Critical minerals management on the federal seabed

Use Single Sign On