Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market Report Scope & Overview:

The Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market size was worth USD 906.71 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1,317.46 million by 2032, burgeoning at a CAGR of 4.79% during 2025-2032.

The hexagonal boron nitride market growth is propelled by the surging h-BN composites demand in 5G applications and EV thermal systems, and the burgeoning application in metal forming and glass molding by using the boron nitride coatings. The popularity of hexagonal boron nitride powder is rising in cosmetics owing to its skin-smoothing and mattifying effects.

• For instance, in March 2025, Momentive Siagel Technologies announced a 50% expansion of its Ohio-based boron nitride powder facility, and ZYP Coatings, which are introduced by the BN Spray II for industrial lubrication.

Advanced ceramics are also being propelled by funding that the U.S. Department of Energy is supplying to develop the next generation of lightweight and high-temperature materials. The hexagonal boron nitride market companies providing hexagonal boron nitride are focusing on USPs to promote demand for products, thereby aiding the hexagonal boron nitride market share and expansion of their market in Asia Pacific and North America. The hexagonal boron nitride market analysis helps in maintaining long-term growth of the hexagonal boron nitride market trends, with the market size growing for composites, coatings, and specialty powders.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market Drivers:

• Federal Research Investments Drive Advanced Boron Nitride Ceramics Innovation Across Energy Applications

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded 16.9 million in December 2024, through its Critical Materials Accelerator, to fund early-stage R&D on boron-based ceramics, including hexagonal boron nitride. Additionally, support from the Critical Materials Innovation Hub is advancing h-BN composites for next-generation electric vehicles and aerospace. These forward-looking investments are driving collaboration between national labs and hexagonal boron nitride suppliers to accelerate product innovation and development lifecycle compression. This tendency provides a substantial boost to the hexagonal boron nitride market share, especially in the high-performance coatings & composites sector.

• Manufacturing Capacity Expansion Aligns with Rising Demand for Specialty Thermal Management Materials

In March 2025, Momentive Technologies announced that it would also expand its boron nitride powder plant in Ohio by 50% to keep pace with increasing demand from the LED-lighting, electronics, and electric-vehicle sectors. This is directly contributing to the hexagonal boron nitride powder market expansion in terms of product availability. In this way companies gain greater control over lead times and supply chains, allowing for a more adaptive response to evolving market requirements. These strategic expansions are impacting the global hexagonal boron nitride market size and encouraging persistent hexagonal boron nitride market growth.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market Restraints:

• Regulatory Restrictions on Nanoparticle Handling Increase Operational Complexity, Hindering the Market Growth

Both OSHA and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have also increased attention on exposure to nanoparticles in the workplace, such as nanoscale boron nitride powders. This will necessitate improved air filtering, monitoring, and worker training. Small players operating in the hexagonal boron nitride powder market are finding it difficult to comply with the stringent quality and statutory requirements, which leads to delayed product launches and poor to no product acceptance. These additional compliance charges constitute an entry barrier slowing down the speed of hexagonal boron nitride market growth in industries, such as electronics and aerospace.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market Segmentation Analysis:

By Grade

The premium grade segment dominated and held the largest market share for hexagonal boron nitride in 2024 (53.2%) as these materials have much higher thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and mechanical properties, making them the material of choice for high-performance materials for electronics and aerospace. For instance, high-end coatings, semiconductors, and insulation for electric systems are the main applications of high-quality hexagonal boron nitride products. This development is driven by advances in nanotechnology and a rising demand from industries that require materials with very specific properties.

On the other hand, custom grade is projected to be the fastest growing segment with the CAGR of 5.94% during the forecast period of 2025-2032. This growth is essentially driven by the increasing demand for tailor-made solutions in the aerospace and electronics sector, where thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties play a major role. Custom hex-BN formulations to modify the material properties provide companies with the flexibility to implement our proprietary applications in energy-efficient technology and advanced devices. The increasing demand for special components in modern industries drives the growth of this segment.

By Type

Powder type is the leading segment and accounted for 44.2% share in 2024. Hexagonal boron nitride powder is in high demand for lubricants, coatings, and composites due to its adaptability and high performance in different industrial applications. Hexagonal boron nitride powder is easy to crush and integrates into various materials to improve heat resistance and electrical conductivity. This segment is also being reinforced by the ever-growing penetration of innovative manufacturing processes in the automotive and aerospace industries.

The plates and sheets sub-segment in the product type category is estimated to rise at the highest CAGR due to the significant utilization and applications of plates and sheets. This expansion is driven by a growing use of the materials for high thermal conductivity, low-friction applications, including mechanical seals and aerospace equipment. Hexagonal boron nitride plates and sheets are preferred due to their integrity, stability to heat, and inertness, which makes them useful in harsh environments.

By Application

The paints and coatings segment held the largest market share, accounting for over 33.9% of the overall revenue in 2024. The excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation behavior of hexagonal boron nitride have made it the most widely used coating material in electronics, vehicles, and machinery applications. These coatings aid in thermal interfacial conductivity and electrical insulation, and in addition provide a means of protecting the electronics from rsvp and abrasive environments. The need for high-performance coatings in these industries will continue to maintain the lead of the paints and coatings sector.

The fastest growing application segment in the market is personal care & cosmetics, having a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period of 2025-2032. The segment has picked up pace on account of the rising usage of hexagonal boron nitride in skincare and cosmetic formulations owing to its silky, smooth texture, oil absorption capabilities, and non-toxic nature. With the increase of consumer awareness for higher performance and more secure raw materials, hexagonal boron nitride will become increasingly more popular in the cosmetics and personal care industry.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market Regional Outlook:

The Asia Pacific region is the dominating and fastest-growing region for hexagonal boron nitride in 2024, with a market share of 43.8%. The growing semiconductor industry in China and instant utilization of hexagonal boron nitride in high-end applications in countries, such as Japan and South Korea are the key contributors to this dominance. With the increasing usage of high-performance materials including boron nitride powder in electronics, energy storage, and automotive, Asia Pacific will witness significant growth. New government policies in these regions to support progress in technology are driving this rapid uptake.

North America is the second-dominant region with an expanding market in the hexagonal boron nitride market, with a market share of 24.8% in 2024. The rising usage of hexagonal boron nitride in end-use industries including automotive, aerospace, and electronics contributes to the growth of hexagonal boron nitride. The demand for high-performance materials is high in the U.S., which accounted for a market size of USD 143.46 million in 2024 and approximately 64% in market share, owing to its wide range of applications in semiconductors, the electric vehicle industry, including others. Firms including Momentive Technologies and Saint-Gobain that are boosting the developments in boron nitride coatings, are also contributing to the dominance of the market. Meanwhile, government-led initiatives and investment in clean energy technologies further underpin this growth pattern.

Europe’s hexagonal boron nitride consumption is 20.3% in 2024, being the third market with the highest market share. The European market is driven by the need for high-quality coatings for automotive, industrial, and electronics applications. As an industry champion, for Germany, boron nitride is promoted to be applied in leading technologies and institutions, such as the Fraunhofer Institute highly impact R&D. The European Union’s drive toward sustainable and energy-efficient technology promotes market growth as boron nitride composites are used more widely in electric vehicle manufacturing.

The hexagonal boron nitride market in LAMEA is estimated to account for a significant share of the overall market during the forecast period. Market growth is being fueled in Latin America by increased demand in the automotive and electronics sectors, especially in Brazil and Mexico, and by a focus on renewable energy and sustainability. At the same time, the Middle East & Africa market is progressing, on account of rising investments in clean energy by countries, including UAE and Saudi Arabia. Rising industrial verticals and the shift towards high performance and eco-friendly materials continue to provide an impetus to the market growth of hexagonal boron nitride in LAMEA.

Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market Companies are:

The major hexagonal boron nitride market competitors include 3M, Saint-Gobain, Momentive Technologies, Denka Company Limited, Henze Boron Nitride Products AG, American Elements, Resonac Corporation (formerly Showa Denko K.K.), Kennametal Inc., ZYP Coatings, Inc., and Höganäs AB.

Recent Developments:

• In December 2024, Researchers at KAUST developed a method to grow high-quality, defect-free hexagonal boron nitride films for industrial-scale production, enhancing electronic device performance.

• In September 2024, Oklahoma State University professors received a grant to engineer color centers in hexagonal boron nitride, aiming to create single-photon emitters for quantum computing advancements.

• In September 2023, Saint-Gobain Boron Nitride partnered with Haydale Group to develop functionalized hexagonal boron nitride powders, enhancing thermal management and electronics applications with improved surface chemistry.