ENGINEERING ECONOMICS AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: AN ANALYSIS OF THE VALUE CHAIN AND INTERNATIONALIZATION OF BOLIVIAN ULEXITE

Abstract

Economic engineering presents strategic opportunities for the regional and sustainable development of territories, especially through the value aggregation of mineral resources such as ulexite. This study aimed to map and analyze the value chain and internationalization of Bolivian ulexite and its interaction with the Brazilian market. The methodology adopted an exploratory and descriptive approach based on bibliographic and documentary research. The stages included: 1) contextualization of the agronomic importance of Boron contained in ulexite; 2) geographical mapping of ulexite reserves in Bolivia (Salar de Uyuni) and the companies that process and export it (Tierra S.A., EMINCOSS, YLB, etc.); 3) Explication of processing flowcharts at a Level 1 (calcination/concentration) and Level 2 (refining into boric acid); and 4) market analysis (production and consumption of the value-added product). The georeferenced results confirm the concentration of ulexite reserves and its productive chain in the Potosí-Bolivia region. Calcination/concentration, practiced by most companies, focuses on exporting ulexite at an average price of 170to250 per ton to large markets such as Brazil and China. Refining into boric acid, mainly carried out by the company Tierra S.A., with an estimated price of $980 per ton, serves the markets of Peru, the USA, and Mexico. It is concluded that chemical refining (Level 2) multiplies the raw material's value by 4 to 5 times, economically justifying the expansion of industrialization beyond primary processing (Level 1) and maximizing its economic potential.