# Fluorspar: Stocks

Why a 33-year reserve life understates the resource

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/stocks/

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 |

 USGS MCS 2026, Fluorspar (world mine production and reserves table). Years of supply = reserves ÷ current output; reserves grow as prices and technology change, so this is not a countdown.

#### 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.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/fluorspar/links/index.md)