Turkey possesses roughly two thirds of the world's boron minerals reserves and is the largest exporter of these minerals. Borate production is concentrated in the western part of the country (Eskishehir, Balikesir, Kutahya and Bursa).
       Turkey's boron operations are under the control of Eti Mine Works G.M. (former Eti Holding and Etibank), a state-owned com-pany. Being the largest single mining company in the country, Eti Mine Works G.M. has been developing the country's natural resources since its establishment in 1935. Eti Mine Works produces a range of boron minerals and refinary products such as colemanite, ulexite, tincal, Etibor-48, borax deca hydrate, anhydrous borax.
       In 1982, Etibank together with the Finnish mining and multi-metal Outokumpu group established a joint-venture "Ab Etiproducts Oy" for marketing Etibank's products in the Scandinavian market. In 1993 Outokumpu's share was transferred to Etimine SA, sister company of Etiproducts, who performs similar task in western Europe.
        Since its esteblishment Etiproducts has gained a reputation as a reliable and competitive supplier of boron products. Presently the company's marketing exclusivity for Turkish boron products covers the following countries: Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Russian Federation. In order to improve our services in the promising Russian market, Etiproducts established its own subsidiary company there, Etiproducts Ltd, in 2005.