Fluorspar: Movement

Who ships acid-grade fluorspar, and who buys it

What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

Acid-grade fluorspar trades under HS 2529.22. In 2023 reported exports were worth $380 million, led by South Africa (24.3%), China (22.4%), Mexico (13.7%) and Vietnam (12.3%). In 2024 imports of $522 million went mainly to the United States (30.5%), India (27.0%), Italy (18.3%) and Germany (9.2%). US imports of all grades came from Mexico (64%), Vietnam (12%), China (10%) and South Africa (9%) in 2021-24, duty free. China now also buys heavily, 86% of it from Mongolia in early 2025. Pitron notes that WTO complaints against China covered its fluorspar export restrictions.

Main trade routes, 2023

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Largest bilateral flows (width = value) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2023, reported exports by the top four exporters of each traded form to their partners (US$). Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Hover a line or circle for values.

Fluorspar (acid grade) · HS 252922

World exports 2023 $380.4 m sum of 37 reporting countries World imports 2024 $522.2 m sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value South Africa 24.3% China 22.4% Mexico 13.7% Vietnam 12.3% Spain 9.7% Mongolia 4.3% Top importers, share of value United States 30.5% India 27% Italy 18.3% Germany 9.2% Tunisia 4.7% China 2.6% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.