Fluorspar: Stocks
Why a 33-year reserve life understates the resource
What this tab covers How much is left and how much is held. For minerals and energy: reserves, current output, years of supply and recycling for the top five countries. For farm commodities: production, ending stocks and stocks-to-use for the top five producers (USDA, October 2026). It also covers inventories and stockpiles.Top five countries: reserves, output and years of supply
| Country | Reserves kt fluorspar | Current output kt fluorspar (mine, 2025e) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 110,000 | 6,000 | 18 | n/a |
| Mexico | 68,000 | 1,500 | 45 | n/a |
| Mongolia | 34,000 | 1,500 | 23 | n/a |
| South Africa | 41,000 | 410 | 100 | n/a |
| Vietnam | 16,000 | 160 | 100 | n/a |
Recycling
World reserves 330,000 kt against 10,000 kt output in 2025, about 33 years (USGS 2026). Recycling is limited: synthetic fluorspar from waste is constrained by impurities and aluminium smelters recycle fluorides in-plant (USGS). EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 1% (EU CRM 2023). Phosphate rock is a large alternative resource (about 5 billion t fluorspar equivalent).
World reserves are 330 Mt, led by China (110 Mt), Mexico (68 Mt) and South Africa (41 Mt). At 2025 output that is about 33 years, short for a bulk mineral. The figure understates the resource. World phosphate rock reserves of 74 billion t hold about 5 billion t of fluorspar equivalent. Recycling is limited. Aluminium smelters recycle fluorides, and synthetic fluorspar from waste is held back by impurities. The EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 1%.
Reserves
World reserves 330,000 thousand metric tons fluorspar Reserve life 33 years at 2025 production China 33% Mexico 21% South Africa 12% Mongolia 10% Vietnam 5% Largest reserve holders, share of world reserves (USGS MCS 2026). Reserves are what is economic to extract today, not what exists.Recycling
End-of-life recycling input rate in the EU: 1% of demand met from post-consumer scrap (EU CRM study 2023).Synthetic fluorspar from uranium, alkylation and pickling wastes is limited by impurities; aluminium smelters recycle HF and fluorides.