Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

Fluorspar: Overview

From refrigerants to batteries: where all fluorine starts

What this tab covers What the commodity is used for, why, in what volumes and with what alternatives, and its chain from mine or field to end user. Also the latest price moves, top recent news, three things to know, and buttons into each tab.

Key uses

UseShareAnnual volumeWhy this commodityAlternatives
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) for fluorochemicals: refrigerants and air-conditioning gases9%n/a basis Acid-grade fluorspar (over 97% CaF2) reacted with sulphuric acid is the starting point for virtually all fluorine chemicals (USGS). Fluorocarbon refrigerants such as HFCs and newer HFOs need fluorine for their stability and thermodynamic properties; phase-down rules under the Kigali amendment shift the mix of gases but not the need for fluorine. USGS MCS 2026; EU CRM study 2023 Fluorosilicic acid from phosphate plants as an HF source (USGS)
Non-fluorinated refrigerants (CO2, ammonia, hydrocarbons) in some systems
Fluoropolymers (PTFE, PVDF) for cookware coatings, cable insulation, chemical linings and battery binders11%n/a basis Fluoropolymers resist heat, chemicals and electrical breakdown better than other plastics. PVDF binds electrodes in lithium-ion cells, and Fastmarkets reports battery-related fluorspar demand in China rising with energy storage (2025). EU CRM study 2023; Fastmarkets, Jan 2025 Other high-performance polymers (PEEK, polyimides) in some uses
Water-based binders for some battery anodes
Other fluorochemicals: LiPF6 battery electrolyte, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, semiconductor etchants11%n/a basis Electronic-grade HF etches and cleans silicon wafers, and lithium hexafluorophosphate is the standard salt in lithium-ion electrolytes; China makes 85-90% of LiPF6 (Fastmarkets 2025). Fluorine atoms also improve the potency of many drugs and crop chemicals. USGS MCS 2026; EU CRM study 2023; Fastmarkets, Jan 2025 Few for semiconductor HF and LiPF6 at scale
Alternative electrolyte salts (e.g. LiFSI) also contain fluorine
Aluminium smelting (aluminium fluoride and synthetic cryolite)15%n/a basis Alumina is dissolved in molten cryolite in Hall-Heroult cells, and aluminium fluoride is added to control bath chemistry. Smelters lose some fluoride and recycle the rest (USGS). USGS MCS 2026; EU CRM study 2023 Fluorosilicic acid to make aluminium fluoride (USGS)
Recycled fluorides from smelter fume treatment
Steelmaking and iron casting flux (metallurgical grade)36%about 2.0 Mt a year worldwide (2016)basis Metspar (97% CaF2 or less) thins steelmaking slag so it removes sulphur and phosphorus better. It is the cheapest way to make slag fluid, which is why steelmakers in China, Europe and India keep using it. Clarke and Huxtable, Fluorspar to 2018 and beyond (2017); EU CRM study 2023; USGS MCS 2026 Aluminium smelting dross, borax, calcium chloride, iron oxides, manganese ore, silica sand, titanium dioxide (USGS)
Uranium processing (UF6 for enrichment)7%n/a basis Uranium is converted to uranium hexafluoride gas for enrichment because fluorine has a single stable isotope, so mass differences come only from uranium. The US also recovers HF when depleted UF6 is converted back to oxide (USGS). EU CRM study 2023; USGS MCS 2026 None for gaseous enrichment
Cement, ceramics, glass, welding rods, enamels and HF alkylation in refining11%n/a basis Fluorspar lowers clinker burning temperature and acts as a flux in glass and enamels. Refineries use HF as a catalyst to make high-octane alkylate. EU CRM study 2023; USGS MCS 2026 Sulphuric acid alkylation in refineries
Other fluxes in cement and glass
Shares are EU end uses (EU CRM study 2023). The world pattern is more weighted to HF: acid grade was 65.5% of world consumption in 2016 (Clarke and Huxtable), and USGS says HF is by far the leading use of acid-grade fluorspar.

From mine to user

  1. 1. Deposits Fluorite occurs in hydrothermal veins and replacement bodies, often with lead, zinc or barite. World reserves are 330 Mt, led by China (110 Mt) and Mexico (68 Mt) (USGS 2026).
  2. 2. Mining Underground or open-pit mining; world output was about 10 Mt in 2025, 60% from China (USGS).
  3. 3. Beneficiation Crushing, gravity separation and flotation produce acid grade (over 97% CaF2) or metallurgical grade (97% or less).
  4. 4. HF production Acidspar is reacted with sulphuric acid in rotary kilns to make anhydrous HF, leaving calcium sulphate (gypsum) as a by-product.
  5. 5. Fluorochemical synthesis HF is turned into refrigerants, fluoropolymers, aluminium fluoride, LiPF6 and pharmaceutical intermediates.
  6. 6. Metspar to steel and cement Metallurgical grade goes straight to steel plants, foundries and cement kilns as a flux.
  7. 7. Trade In 2024 the US (30.5%), India (27.0%), Italy (18.3%) and Germany (9.2%) took most acid-grade import value; China now also imports heavily, 86% from Mongolia in H1 2025 (Comtrade; USGS).
  8. 8. End of life Fluorine is mostly dissipated or emitted; EU end-of-life recycling input is 1% (EU CRM 2023). Smelters recycle fluorides in-plant.

Price movement snapshot 2026-10-25

No public daily or monthly benchmark price for this commodity in the datasets used.

World production 9.74 m tonnes, 2024 Largest producer China 67.74% of world Reserve life 33 yrs reserves ÷ 2025 output

Three things to know

  • China's fluorspar imports jumped 48% to 856,000 t in the first half of 2025, with 86% from Mongolia.
  • World phosphate rock reserves contain about 5 billion t of fluorspar equivalent, 15 times listed fluorspar reserves.
  • Fluorspar reserves of 330 Mt would last about 33 years at 2025 output.

Top recent news snapshot 2026-10-25, last 30 days

Chemicals made from it

HF Hydrofluoric acidPTFE Fluoropolymers (PTFE, PVDF)LiPF6 Battery electrolytesESG Electronic specialty gasesUPW Ultra-pure wet chemicalsHFC Fluorochemicals and refrigerants

Read the tabs

ExtractionProductionStocksCyclesTradingMovementCriticalityCharacteristicsEmissions