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Market Research Report

The Economics of Fluorspar (Tenth Edition, 2009)

Published by Roskill Information Services, Ltd.
Published January, 2009 Product code 80879
Content info 252 pages, 141 tables and 77 figures.
Price
US $ 5000 Hard Copy
US $ 5000 MS Word File By E-mail (Site License)


The Economics of Fluorspar (Tenth Edition, 2009) published by Roskill Information Services, Ltd. in January, 2009. This report consists of 252 pages, 141 tables and 77 figures. and the price starts from US $ 5000.

Introduction

Abstract

Over the last five years global demand for all grades of fluorspar has grown at an AAGR of just over 5% and demand for acidspar has increased at 6.8%pa. In four out of the last five years demand has exceeded supply.

Over the same period exports of fluorspar from China have fallen by more than 500,000tpy as China has doubled its own consumption. The reduction in exports of Chinese acidspar has been partially offset by increasing exports of HF and AlF - at least until mid 2007 when a shortage of sulphuric acid had an adverse affect on production and exports of HF. Future availability of HF for export is likely to be adversely affected by an increased emphasis on the production of downstream fluorochemicals in China.

The shortfall in the supply of fluorspar outside China, combined with increasing freight costs led to a sharp increase in US, European and Japanese import prices. At the beginning of 2002 US cif prices for acidspar were around US$138.5/t rising to around US550/t in October 2008.

Demand for fluorspar from the chemical sector has grown at an average 9.7%pa since 2003 compared to only 2.1%pa in the previous 5 years; while demand for aluminium fluoride has increased by 6.6%pa compared with 3.2%pa in the preceding five years - largely a reflection of increased aluminium output. The use of metspar in steel manufacture has declined due to substitution and better fluorine recycling.

A technology to enable production of HF from high arsenic fluorspar has been developed in Mexico. This has expanded the pool of resources from which acidspar suitable for HF manufacture can be drawn. Since 2001 significant mine capacity has been added in China (650Ktpy), Mexico (300Ktpy) and Mongolia (100Ktpy).

Future demand will be driven by growth in the aluminium and chemical sectors although the impact of a recently agreed accelerated phase-out of HCFCs and HFCs will dampen growth in fluorocarbons. Demand growth for aluminium will be around 5%pa to 2020, but fluorspar demand will be moderated by environmental and technical improvements and some increased use of fluorosilicic acid. The use of fluorspar in the steel industry will continue to decline. Total demand for fluorspar will increase by an average of 300Ktpy to 5.8Mt by 2010 and a further 500ktpy in the next decade.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Summary
  • 2. Introduction
  • 3. Occurrences and reserves of fluorspar
    • 3 .1. Mineralogy of fluorspar
    • 3 .2. Occurrences of fluorspar
    • 3 .3. Resources of fluorspar
      • 3 .3 .1. Fluorite
      • 3 .3 .2. Fluorapatite
      • 3 .3 .3. Other sources of fluorine
  • 4. Mining and processing of fluorspar
    • 4 .1. Fluorspar
      • 4 .1 .1. Grades of Fluorspar
    • 4 .2. Hydrofluoric acid
    • 4 .3. Aluminium fluoride
    • 4 .4. Synthetic cryolite
  • 5. World production of fluorspar
    • 5 .1. Main producers of fluorspar
    • 5 .2. Outlook for future supply
  • 6. Review of fluorspar production and processing by company and country
    • 6 .1. Afghanistan
    • 6 .2. Algeria
    • 6 .3. Argentina
      • 6 .3 .1. Producers of fluorspar in Argentina
    • 6 .4. Australia
      • 6 .4 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Australia
      • 6 .4 .2. Mining projects and exploration for fluorspar in Australia
        • 6 .4 .2 .1. Minemakers Ltd
        • 6 .4 .2 .2. NiPlats
      • 6 .4 .3. Markets for fluorspar in Australia
    • 6 .5. Belgium
    • 6 .6. Bolivia
    • 6 .7. Brazil
      • 6 .7 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Brazil
      • 6 .7 .2. Producers of fluorspar in Brazil
        • 6 .7 .2 .1. Cia Nitro Quimica Brasiliera (CNQB)
        • 6 .7 .2 .2. Empresa de Mineracao Tangua Ltda (Emitang)
        • 6 .7 .2 .3. Mineracao Nossa Senhora do Carmo Ltda (MNSCL)
      • 6 .7 .3. Previous producers of fluorspar in Brazil
      • 6 .7 .4. Markets for fluorspar in Brazil
    • 6 .8. Bulgaria
    • 6 .9. Canada
      • 6 .9 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Canada
      • 6 .9 .2. Previous production of fluorspar in Canada
      • 6 .9 .3. Markets for fluorspar in Canada
    • 6 .10. China
      • 6 .10 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in China
      • 6 .10 .2. Producers of fluorspar in China
        • 6 .10 .2 .1. China Centralfluor Industries Group Co Ltd (CFIC)
        • 6 .10 .2 .2. Zhejiang Dongfeng Fluorspar Group
        • 6 .10 .2 .3. Chifeng Tianma Fluorite Industry Development Co Ltd
        • 6 .10 .2 .4. Fujian Kings Fluoride Industry Co Ltd
        • 6 .10 .2 .5. China Yingpeng Chemical Co Ltd
        • 6 .10 .2 .6. Zhejiang Juhua Group
        • 6 .10 .2 .7. Xingguo Fluorspar Mines
        • 6 .10 .2 .8. Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Ind Co Ltd
        • 6 .10 .2 .9. Hubei Hong' an Fluorspar Mine
        • 6 .10 .2 .10. Fujian Shaowu Mineral Co Ltd (SFMH)
        • 6 .10 .2 .11. Inner Mongolia Xiangzhen Mining Group Co Ltd (Xiangzhen Mining)
        • 6 .10 .2 .12. Jinhua Jingxuan Minerals Industry Co Ltd
        • 6 .10 .2 .13. Zhejiang Kaisn Fluorochemical Co., Ltd.
        • 6 .10 .2 .14. De' An Yongfei Mineral Industry Co Ltd
      • 6 .10 .3. Trade
      • 6 .10 .4. Markets for fluorspar in China
        • 6 .10 .4 .1. Hydrofluoric acid producers in China
        • 6 .10 .4 .2. Aluminium fluoride producers in China
    • 6 .11. Czech Republic
      • 6 .11 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Czech Republic
      • 6 .11 .2. Previous producers of fluorspar in Czech Republic
      • 6 .11 .3. Markets for fluorspar in Czech Republic
    • 6 .12. Egypt
    • 6 .13. France
      • 6 .13 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in France
      • 6 .13 .2. Previous producers of fluorspar in France
      • 6 .13 .3. Markets for fluorspar in France
    • 6 .14. Germany
      • 6 .14 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Germany
      • 6 .14 .2. Sachtleben Bergbau GmbH
      • 6 .14 .3. Previous producers of fluorspar in Germany
      • 6 .14 .4. Markets for fluorspar in Germany
    • 6 .15. Greece
    • 6 .16. Greenland
    • 6 .17. India
      • 6 .17 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in India
      • 6 .17 .2. Producers of fluorspar in India
        • 6 .17 .2 .1. Gujarat Mineral Development Corp (GMDC)
        • 6 .17 .2 .2. Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Ltd (RSMML)
        • 6 .17 .2 .3. Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC)
      • 6 .17 .3. Markets for fluorspar in India
    • 6 .18. Iran
      • 6 .18 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Iran
      • 6 .18 .2. Producers of fluorspar in Iran
        • 6 .18 .2 .1. Yazd province
        • 6 .18 .2 .2. Mazandaran Province
        • 6 .18 .2 .3. Markazi province
        • 6 .18 .2 .4. Khorassan province
        • 6 .18 .2 .5. Others
      • 6 .18 .3. Markets for fluorspar in Iran
    • 6 .19. Italy
      • 6 .19 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Italy
      • 6 .19 .2. Previous producers and processors of fluorspar in Italy
      • 6 .19 .3. Markets for fluorspar in Italy
    • 6 .20. Japan
      • 6 .20 .1. Markets for fluorspar in Japan
    • 6 .21. Jordan
    • 6 .22. Kazakhstan
    • 6 .23. Kenya
      • 6 .23 .1. Kenya Fluorspar Company
    • 6 .24. North Korea
    • 6 .25. South Korea
    • 6 .26. Kyrgyzstan
    • 6 .27. Malawi
    • 6 .28. Mexico
      • 6 .28 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Mexico
      • 6 .28 .2. Producers of fluorspar in Mexico
        • 6 .28 .2 .1. Cia Minera Las Cuevas
        • 6 .28 .2 .2. Fluorita de Mexico SA de CV
        • 6 .28 .2 .3. Minera Muzquiz SA de CV
        • 6 .28 .2 .4. Minerales y Productos Metalurgicos SA (MPM)
        • 6 .28 .2 .5. Others
      • 6 .28 .3. Previous producers of fluorspar in Mexico
      • 6 .28 .4. Markets for fluorspar in Mexico
        • 6 .28 .4 .1. Mexichem SAB de CV
        • 6 .28 .4 .2. Solvay Fluor M?xico SA de CV
        • 6 .28 .4 .3. Industrias Quimicas de Mexico
        • 6 .28 .4 .4. Quimbasicos
    • 6 .29. Mongolia
      • 6 .29 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Mongolia
      • 6 .29 .2. Producers of fluorspar in Mongolia
        • 6 .29 .2 .1. Mongolrostsvetmet (Monros)
        • 6 .29 .2 .2. Mongolia International Mining Corporation (MIMC)
    • 6 .30. Morocco
      • 6 .30 .1. Societe Anonyme d' Enterprises Mini?res (Samine)
    • 6 .31. Mozambique
    • 6 .32. Namibia
      • 6 .32 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Namibia
      • 6 .32 .2. Okorusu Fluorspar
    • 6 .33. Netherlands
    • 6 .34. Nigeria
    • 6 .35. Norway
    • 6 .36. Pakistan
    • 6 .37. Paraguay
    • 6 .38. Poland
    • 6 .39. Romania
    • 6 .40. Russia
      • 6 .40 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Russia
      • 6 .40 .2. Producers of fluorspar in Russia
        • 6 .40 .2 .1. Yaroslavsky GOK
        • 6 .40 .2 .2. JSC Zabaikalsky GOK
        • 6 .40 .2 .3. FGUP Chitageologorazvedka
        • 6 .40 .2 .4. JSC Artel Quartz
        • 6 .40 .2 .5. JSC Khoronhoysky GOK
        • 6 .40 .2 .6. JSC Kalanguysky PShK
        • 6 .40 .2 .7. Suran Cooperative Quartz
      • 6 .40 .3. Markets for fluorspar in Russia
    • 6 .41. Saudi Arabia
    • 6 .42. South Africa
      • 6 .42 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in South Africa
      • 6 .42 .2. Producers of fluorspar in South Africa
        • 6 .42 .2 .1. Vergenoeg Mining Company (Pty) Ltd (Metorex Ltd)
        • 6 .42 .2 .2. South African Land and Exploration Co Ltd (Sallies)
      • 6 .42 .3. Previous producers of fluorspar in South Africa
      • 6 .42 .4. Markets for fluorspar in South Africa
    • 6 .43. Spain
      • 6 .43 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Spain
      • 6 .43 .2. Minerales y Productos Derivados SA (Minersa)
      • 6 .43 .3. Previous producers of fluorspar in Spain
      • 6 .43 .4. Markets for fluorspar in Spain
    • 6 .44. Sweden
    • 6 .45. Taiwan
    • 6 .46. Tajikistan
    • 6 .47. Thailand
      • 6 .47 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in Thailand
      • 6 .47 .2. Mining and processing of fluorspar in Thailand
        • 6 .47 .2 .1. Asian Mineral Resources Co Ltd
        • 6 .47 .2 .2. Previous producers of fluorspar in Thailand
    • 6 .48. Tunisia
    • 6 .49. Trinidad and Tobago
    • 6 .50. Turkey
    • 6 .51. Ukraine
    • 6 .52. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
    • 6 .53. United Kingdom
      • 6 .53 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in the United Kingdom
      • 6 .53 .2. Glebe Mines Ltd
      • 6 .53 .3. Previous producers of fluorspar in the United Kingdom
        • 6 .53 .3 .1. Sherburn Minerals
        • 6 .53 .3 .2. Biwater Industries (Clay Cross) Ltd
        • 6 .53 .3 .3. Dresser Minerals
      • 6 .53 .4. Markets for fluorspar in the United Kingdom
    • 6 .54. USA
      • 6 .54 .1. Reserves and resources of fluorspar in the USA
      • 6 .54 .2. Hastie Mining and Trucking
      • 6 .54 .3. Seaforth Mineral and Ore Co
      • 6 .54 .4. Previous producers of fluorspar in the USA
      • 6 .54 .5. Markets for fluorspar in the USA
    • 6 .55. Uzbekistan
    • 6 .56. Venezuela
    • 6 .57. Vietnam
      • 6 .57 .1. Nui Phao Mining Company Ltd (Nuiphaovica)
    • 6 .58. Zambia
    • 6 .59. Zimbabwe
  • 7. World Consumption of fluorspar
  • 8. Applications for fluorspar in the chemical industry
    • 8 .1. Production of fluorocarbons used in non-feedstock applications
      • 8 .1 .1. The impact of regulatory controls on fluorocarbon production
      • 8 .1 .2. The potential for replacing CFCs with HCFCs and HFCs
      • 8 .1 .3. Applications for non-feedstock fluorocarbons
        • 8 .1 .3 .1. Refrigeration
        • 8 .1 .3 .2. Blowing agents
        • 8 .1 .3 .3. Pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals
        • 8 .1 .3 .4. Solvent cleaning
        • 8 .1 .3 .5. Fire extinguishers
      • 8 .1 .4. Outlook for fluorspar in the manufacture of non-feedstock fluorocarbons
    • 8 .2. Fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers
      • 8 .2 .1. Outlook for fluorspar demand in fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers
    • 8 .3. Other fluorochemicals and end-uses
    • 8 .4. Other applications for chemicals derived from HF
      • 8 .4 .1. Fluoridation of drinking water
      • 8 .4 .2. Uranium manufacture
      • 8 .4 .3. Petroleum alkylation
      • 8 .4 .4. Glass cleaning and etching
      • 8 .4 .5. Fluorine chemicals used in the electronics industry
        • 8 .4 .5 .1. Electronic grade hydrofluoric acid
        • 8 .4 .5 .2. Germanium tetrafluoride
        • 8 .4 .5 .3. Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)
        • 8 .4 .5 .4. Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) - Dielectrics
        • 8 .4 .5 .5. Fluorographite (CF2)
      • 8 .4 .6. Metal processing
        • 8 .4 .6 .1. Hydrometallurgical extraction of niobium and tantalum
        • 8 .4 .6 .2. Other applications in metal processing
      • 8 .4 .7. Potassium fluoride
      • 8 .4 .8. Detergents
      • 8 .4 .9. Outlook for fluorspar demand in applications for chemicals derived from HF, other than fluorocarbons
  • 9. Fluorspar applications in primary aluminium production
    • 9 .1. Use of fluorine in the aluminium industry
    • 9 .2. Sources of fluorine additions
    • 9 .3. Production of primary aluminium
      • 9 .3 .1. Consumption of aluminium
      • 9 .3 .2. Outlook for aluminium production
    • 9 .4. Factors affecting demand for fluorspar in the aluminium industry
      • 9 .4 .1. Environmental considerations
    • 9 .5. Outlook for fluorspar demand in primary aluminium production
  • 10. Fluorspar applications in iron and steel production
    • 10 .1. Use of fluorspar in the iron and steel industry
    • 10 .2. Production of iron and steel
      • 10 .2 .1. Outlook for stainless steel demand
      • 10 .3. Supply of metspar to the steel industry
      • 10 .4. Consumption of fluorspar in the iron and steel industry
      • 10 .5. Outlook for fluorspar end-use in iron and steel production
  • 11. Other applications for fluorspar
    • 11 .1. Cement clinker manufacture
    • 11 .2. Use of acidspar as a flux or opacifier
      • 11 .2 .1. Enamels
      • 11 .2 .2. Welding rods
      • 11 .2 .3. Glass
      • 11 .2 .4. Fibreglass
    • 11 .3. Outlook for other applications for acidspar in the form of CaF2
  • 12. International trade
    • 12 .1. Fluorspar
      • 12 .1 .1. Exports
      • 12 .1 .2. Imports
    • 12 .2. Hydrofluoric acid
    • 12 .3. Aluminium fluoride
  • 13. Prices
    • 13 .1. Fluorspar
    • 13 .2. Hydrofluoric Acid
    • 13 .3. Aluminium fluoride
    • 13 .4. Fluorosilicic acid

Tables Listing

  • 1. Physical properties of fluorspar
  • 2. World: Reserves of fluorspar, 2009
  • 3. World: Reserves of phosphate rock, 2008
  • 4. World: Mine production of fluorspar, 1994-2007
  • 5. World: Production of fluorspar by region, 1992-2007
  • 6. World: Production of fluorspar by country and by grade, 1998, 2003 and 2007
  • 7. World: Production by major suppliers 1950-2007
  • 8. World: Fluorspar production by major producing countries, 2007
  • 9. World: Fluorspar production by major producing companies, 2007
  • 10. Possible new sources of supply - excluding China
  • 11. Argentina: Salient production and trade data, 2000-2007
  • 12. Argentina: Production of fluorspar 1990-2007; and by province 1994-1996 and 2003
  • 13. Australia: Imports of fluorspar, 2000-2007
  • 14. Belgium: Imports and exports of fluorspar, HF, and aluminium fluoride 2000-2007
  • 15. Brazil: Production of fluorspar, 1997-2007
  • 16. Brazil: Imports of fluorspar and derivatives, 1999-2007
  • 17. Brazil: Fluorite and cryolite reserves divided by area, 2005
  • 18. Brazil: Operation and output by company, 2007
  • 19. Canada: Trade in fluorspar, HF and AlF3, 2001-2007
  • 20. China: main Chinese fluorspar provinces
  • 21. China: Principal fluorspar producers, 2008
  • 22. China: Evolution of export quotas and taxes, 1993-2008
  • 23. China: Fluorspar production, domestic consumption and exports, 1998-2007
  • 24. China: HF production and consumption on the chemical industry, 2003-2007
  • 25. China: Principal HF producers, 2007
  • 26. China: Principal AlF3 producers, 2007
  • 27. Czech Republic: Import and export of fluorspar and HF, 2001-2007
  • 28. Egypt: Fluorspar production, 1993-2007
  • 29. France: Production of fluorspar, 1973-2007
  • 30. France: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives and apparent domestic consumption, 2000-2007
  • 31. Germany: Fluorspar production, 1980-2007
  • 32. Germany: Imports and exports of fluorspar and its derivatives and inferred domestic fluorspar consumption, 2000-2007
  • 33. India: Production of fluorspar, 1995-2007
  • 34. India: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives and apparent domestic consumption, 2000-2007
  • 35. India: Recoverable reserves of fluorite, April 2005, CaF2
  • 36. India: Production of fluorspar by grade and region, 2003-2007
  • 37. India: Consumption of fluorspar by industry sector, 1999-2006
  • 38. Iran: Production of fluorspar, 1995-2007
  • 39. Iran: Exports of fluorspar 2000-2007
  • 40. Iran: Principal producers of fluorspar, 2007
  • 41. Italy: Production of fluorspar, 1993-2003
  • 42. Italy: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives, 1999-2003
  • 43. Japan: Imports of fluorspar and its derivatives, 2000-2008
  • 44. Japan: Producers of HF and fluorine chemical products
  • 45. Japan: Production capacity of principal producers of HF, 2007
  • 46. Japan: Hydrogen fluoride: Trends in production, trade and apparent consumption, 2000-2008
  • 47. Jordan: Output and exports of AlF3, 1985-2006
  • 48. Kazakhstan: Fluorspar production, 2000-2007
  • 49. Kenya: Production of fluorspar, 1979-2007
  • 50. Kenya: Exports of fluorspar, 1998-2003
  • 51. North Korea: Fluorspar production, 1993-2007
  • 52. South Korea: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives, 2000-2007
  • 53. Kyrgyzstan: Production of fluorspar, 1997-2007
  • 54. Mexico: Production of fluorspar, 1960-2007
  • 55. Mexico: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives, 2000-2007
  • 56. Mexico: Production of fluorspar by company, 2005-2007
  • 57. Mexico: Production and Consumption of HF, 1997-2007
  • 58. Mongolia: Production of fluorspar, 1980-2007
  • 59. Mongolia: Exports of metspar, 2000-2007
  • 60. USA: Recorded imports of acidspar from Mongolia, by district, 2004-2007
  • 61. Morocco: Production of fluorspar, 1984-2007
  • 62. Namibia: Production and exports of fluorspar, 1990-2007
  • 63. Pakistan: Production of fluorspar, 1980-2007
  • 64. Russia: Production of fluorspar 2000-2007
  • 65. Russia: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives 2000-2007
  • 66. Russia: Fluorspar production by company 1999-2007
  • 67. South Africa: Production of fluorspar, 1970-2007
  • 68. South Africa: Production and sales of fluorspar, 1999-2007
  • 69. Vergenoeg: Reported results and production, 2000-2008
  • 70. Sallies: Reported results and production 2002-2008
  • 71. Spain: Production of fluorspar, 1982-2007
  • 72. Spain: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives, 2000-2007
  • 73. Taiwan: Imports of fluorspar and its derivatives 2000-2007
  • 74. Thailand: Production of fluorspar, 1980-2007
  • 75. Tunisia: Production and imports of fluorspar, 1980-2007
  • 76. UK: Production of fluorspar, 1980-2007
  • 77. UK: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives, 2000-2007
  • 78. USA: Production of fluorspar, 1973-2007
  • 79. USA: Trade in fluorspar and its derivatives, 2000-2007
  • 80. World: Fluorspar demand, 1950-2007
  • 81. World: Consumption of fluorspar by application, 1990-2030,
  • 82. Fluorspar: World consumption in 2007 by product and industry
  • 83. World: Consumption of fluorspar by region, 1990-2007
  • 84. World: Fluorspar demand by region and application, 2007
  • 85. World: Production of HF by region, 2002-2007
  • 86. World: Production and capacity of hydrofluoric acid plants, 2007
  • 87. World: Production of non-feedstock fluorocarbons divided by application, 2007
  • 88. World: production non-feedstock fluorocarbons divided by type of fluorocarbon, 2007
  • 89. Control Measures resulting from the Montreal Protocol, 2007
  • 90. USA and EU: Phase out timetable for HCFC and HFC
  • 91. Annual production of fluorocarbons as reported to AFEAS, 1980-2006
  • 92. Ozone depletion potential and global warming potential of major fluorocarbons
  • 93. World: Non-feedstock fluorocarbon production, and acidspar requirement, 2003-2007
  • 94. USA: Fluorocarbon Producer Capacity, 2007,
  • 95. World: Fluorocarbons: Main products and major applications, 2008
  • 96. World production of HFC134a by region and company, 2007
  • 97. Selected countries: Estimated use of fluorspar in non-feedstock fluorocarbon production as reported to AFEAS, 1970-2005,
  • 98. World: Fluorspar use in non-feedstock fluorocarbon production 2004, and forecasts to 2030,
  • 99. Fluorocarbons main feedstock products and major applications, 2008
  • 100. China: Fluoropolymer capacity and production, 2002, 2005 and 2007
  • 101. World: Estimated PTFE capacity, 2007,
  • 102. Structure and uses of commercially important fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers
  • 103. World: Producers of electronic grade hydrofluoric acid
  • 104. HF markets other than fluorocarbons: Roskill forecasts to 2030
  • 105. World: Aluminium fluoride capacity and production using fluorspar feedstock by country, company, and plant, 2007
  • 106. World: AlF3 capacity and production using FSA feedstock by country, company and plant, 2007
  • 107. Aluminium fluoride: Consumption by region 2002-2007
  • 108. World: Aluminium fluoride production and useage, 1999-2007
  • 109. World: Production of primary aluminium by country, 1995-2007
  • 110. World: Principal primary aluminium producing companies, 2007
  • 111. World: Acidspar use in aluminium manufacture, 2003-2030
  • 112. World: Production of crude steel by region, 1990 to 2007
  • 113. World: Reported production of stainless steel by region, 2001-2007
  • 114. World: Stainless steel production by country, 1998-2007
  • 115. World: Leading producers of stainless steel, 2002-2007
  • 116. World: Metspar: Unit consumption kg/t steel output 1994 - 2007 and forecasts to 2030
  • 117. Main countries: Estimated yearend clinker production capacity, 1996 to 2007
  • 118. World: Exports of fluorspar by leading country and continent 1983-2007
  • 119. World: Exports of metspar by leading exporting countries and main destinations, 2003-2007
  • 120. World: Exports of acidspar by leading exporting countries and main destinations, 2003-2007
  • 121. World: Imports of fluorspar by leading countries and regions 1983-2007
  • 122. World: Imports of metspar by leading importing countries and main sources, 2002 - 2007
  • 123. World: Imports of acidspar by leading importing countries and main sources, 2003-2007
  • 124. World: Exports of HF by leading exporting countries and main destinations, 2003-2007
  • 125. World: Imports of HF by leading importing countries and main sources, 2003-2007
  • 126. World: Exports of AlF3 by leading export countries and main destinations, 2003-2007
  • 127. World: imports of AlF3 by leading importing countries and main sources, 2003-2007
  • 128. World: Exports of synthetic cryolite by leading exporting countries and main destinations, 2003-2007
  • 129. World: Imports of synthetic cryolite by leading importing countries and main sources, 2003-2007
  • 130. China: Export quotas and licence fees 1993-2008
  • 131. USA: Average values of imports of fluorspar, 2000-2008
  • 132. Japan: Average values of imports of fluorspar, 2000-2008
  • 133. Germany: Average values of imports of fluorspar, 2003-2007
  • 134. Italy: Average values of imports of fluorspar, 2003-2008
  • 135. World: Fluorspar prices: Industrial Minerals quotations 1995-2008
  • 136. Fluorspar prices: Date of change January 2000 to January 2009
  • 137. Average value of German exports of hydrofluoric acid 2000-2008
  • 138. Japan: Average value of exports of HF, 2000-2008
  • 139. Average value of trade flows of aluminium fluoride by country
  • 140. Average value of trade flows of synthetic cryolite by leading country, 1999-2007
  • 141. USA: Average value of shipments of fluorosilicic acid 2000-2007
  • .

Figures Listing

  • 1. World: Production of fluorspar by leading producing countries and by grade, 2000-2007
  • 2. China: Supply of fluorspar, 1998-2007
  • 3. Top ten fluorspar mining companies, 2007
  • 4. China: trends in exports of acidspar, HF, AlF3 and fluorocarbons, 2002-2007
  • 5. World: Trends in production and consumption of acidspar, 2002-2007
  • 6. Comparison of production and consumption by country and region, 2007
  • 7. World: Production of fluorspar, 1913-2007
  • 8. Trends in world production of fluorspar, 1989-2007
  • 9. Production of fluorspar by region, 1992-2007
  • 10. Production of acidspar by region, 2000-2007,
  • 11. China: Production of acidspar and metspar, 199-2007
  • 12. China: Production and exports of fluorspar
  • 13. China: Comparison of export quota and recorded exports and inferred imports of fluorspar, 2002-2007
  • 14. China: Exports of metspar by destination, 1998-2008
  • 15. China: Exports of acidspar by main destination, 1998-2008
  • 16. China: Exports of HF and AlF3, 1997-2008
  • 17. China: Exports of HF by destination, 2007
  • 18. China: Exports of AlF3 by destination, 2007
  • 19. China: Exports of HCFCs by destination, 2000-2007
  • 20. China: Exports of HFCs by destination 2000-2007
  • 21. China: Exports of fluoropolymers by destination, 2007
  • 22. Italy: Imports of acidspar, 2000-2007
  • 23. Italy: Inferred exports of aluminium fluoride
  • 24. Japan: Imports of Acidspar and HF, 2000-2007
  • 25. Mexico: Production of fluorspar by state 2003-2007
  • 26. Mexico: Production of acidspar and metspar, 2000-2007
  • 27. Mexico: Exports of Metspar, 2000-2007
  • 28. Mexico: Exports of acidspar and HF to other NAFTA countries, 2000-2007
  • 29. Mongolia: Fluorspar producers, 2007
  • 30. Morocco: Exports of acidspar, 2000-2007
  • 31. Russia: production and trade in fluorspar, 2000-2007
  • 32. Russia: Estimated fluorspar consumption by end-use in 2007
  • 33. Russia: Year on year percentage growth in output of aluminium and steel, 1999-2007
  • 34. South Africa: Production and exports of fluorspar, 2000-2007
  • 35. Tunisia: Exports of aluminium fluoride, 2000-2007
  • 36. Ukraine: imports of metspar, 2002-2007
  • 37. US imports of fluorspar, HF and AlF3, 2000-2008
  • 38. USA: Imports of acidspar by country, 2002-2007
  • 39. USA: Imports of hydrofluoric acid, 2000-2007
  • 40. USA: Imports of aluminium fluoride by country, 2000-2008
  • 41. World consumption of acidspar by region, 2000-2007
  • 42. Comparison of global steel production and metspar consumption
  • 43. World demand for fluorspar by region and application, 2007
  • 44. World: Demand for acidspar and metspar by region, 2007,
  • 45. HF production capacity divided by country
  • 46. World: Consumption of HF, 2002-2007
  • 47. World: HF applications by intermediate and end products
  • 48. Ozone Protocol and Amendments Ratification Status
  • 49. Annual production of CFCs as reported to AFEAS, 1980-2004
  • 50. Annual production of non-feedstock fluorocarbons as reported to AFEAS, 1980-2006
  • 51. Global warming Potential: Emission comparison of C02 and HFC134a with time
  • 52. Fluorspar demand in the manufacture of UF6, 2006-2030
  • 53. Solvent extraction of tantalum and niobium compounds
  • 54. Aluminium fluoride production by region, 2007,
  • 55. Production of aluminium by region, 1998 to 2007
  • 56. World: Division of production of primary aluminium by principal country, 2007
  • 57. World: Primary aluminium production by principal companies, 2007
  • 58. Production and consumption of aluminium, 2007
  • 59. Aluminium consumption and GDP growth, 1998 to 2007
  • 60. Forecast GDP growth and aluminium consumption
  • 61. World: Production of steel by process, 1997-2007
  • 62. Percentage of steel produced by EAF by region, 2006
  • 63. Comparison of monthly steel output in 2007 and 2008
  • 64. Top ten producing steel countries in 2007, comparison with output 1990 and 2000
  • 65. Trends in stainless steel production by region
  • 66. Division of stainless steel production, 2007
  • 67. World: Forecast stainless steel production and GDP change,
  • 68. World: Major fluorspar importing and exporting countries 2007
  • 69. Trends in Chinese exports of fluorspar and its derivatives 1999-2008,
  • 70. Leading exporters of fluorspar: Trends in supply, 1983-2007
  • 71. HF: Trends in exports as recorded by leading importing countries 1999-2008
  • 72. Chinese acidspar: Comparison of average value of imports and quoted price for filtercake, dry basis, cif, US Gulf, 2006-2008
  • 73. Main exporters of acidspar: Average value of exports, 2001-2008
  • 74. USA: Average value of imports of acidspar (A) and metspar (M), 1990-2008
  • 75. Recent trends in the price of US imports of Chinese acidspar
  • 76. Average value of US imports of hydrofluoric acid 1997-2008
  • 77. Average value of Chinese exports of hydrofluoric acid, 2003-2008

Press Release

New report from Roskill analyses worldwide Fluorspar supply and demand

February 10th, 2009

Spot prices for acid grade fluorspar, landed in the USA, increased four fold between January 2003 and November 2008 as the market responded to the reduction in supply from China and soaring freight costs. The extent of the availability of Chinese fluorspar has been the main factor affecting fluorspar prices since the mid 1980s. Acidspar prices were low throughout the 1990s as a result of declining world demand coupled with a surge in exports of low price fluorspar from China. Following the introduction of anti-dumping measures in Mexico and Europe and the closure of some mines, the supply/demand balance began to normalise. Further stabilisation of the market occurred at the beginning of the 2000s as China reduced export quotas and introduced export tariffs. Exports of Chinese fluorspar halved between 2002 and 2008.

In the meantime, mine production in the rest of the world had declined in the 1990s in response to low prices and diminishing production of fluorochemicals in the rest of the world. It has taken some time for production to increase elsewhere, but by 2008 Mexican producers had practically doubled their output since 1998 and output had also increased significantly in Mongolia, Russia and Namibia.

The supply situation was also eased by the increasing availability of downstream products from China. Exports of aluminium fluoride, for example, increased from 17,550t in 2003 to over 100,000t in 2008. Exports of hydrofluoric acid also soared between 2003 and 2006 but have levelled off, partly owing to the imposition of a 15% export tax in 2008, which indicates that the government is encouraging the production of added value fluorocarbons. Exports of HFCs to Europe and North America have already started to make an impact.

The diminishing availability of fluorspar from China and strong growth in demand from 2002 to the third quarter of 2008 has led to a number of proposed new mining operations. Of the total identified potential output of 1.4Mtpy it is estimated that about 0.7Mt has attracted significant funding. Possible new producers from new deposits include the Nui Phao Mining Company in Vietnam, Tertiary Minerals in Sweden and Mongolia Minerals. A number of companies are investigating reopening old mines or exploiting deposits adjacent to old workings, and these include Burin Fluorspar in Canada and Hastie Mining in the USA. In China, companies that have previously exploited deposits in Zhejiang are now developing new deposits in Inner Mongolia, Fujian and Jiangxi. Over the past decade as a whole, demand for fluorspar has grown at just 2.2%py but in the years from 2003 to 2007, growth rates exceeded 4%py as the industry started to recover from the effects of restrictions on the use of some fluorocarbons. Of the 5.5Mt of fluorspar consumed in 2007, an estimated 50% was used in the manufacture of chemicals, 24% in iron and steel and 17% in the manufacture of aluminium. Growth has been associated with production of chemicals and aluminium fluoride, both of which are derived from acidspar. This has led to some tightness in supply of acidspar, as production has grown by 6.6%py since 2002 while consumption has grown by 7.4%py over the same period. Over the four years from 2003, it is likely that stockpiles have been drawn down to contribute to supply.

The market for fluorocarbons is recovering from the impact of phasing out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are being replaced by fluorocarbons with a lower ozone depleting potential. It is estimated that around 1.8Mt of fluorspar was consumed in 2007 in the manufacture of fluorocarbons for applications such as refrigerants and foam blowing. Replacement fluorocarbons (HCFCs and HFCs) require more fluorspar in their manufacture but this positive factor is increasingly offset by further restrictions on the use of HCFCs and HFCs, as several of the compounds have been identified as exhibiting global warming potential. These further restrictions and the phasing out of CFCs in China and other industrialising countries over the next few years will limit growth to 1%py.

The other main application for fluorochemicals is the manufacture of fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers for use in materials such as PTFE, PFA, ETFE and PVDF. The main product is PTFE, which is used in insulation of electrical wire and cables as well as in aerospace, coatings and electronics. Demand for fluorspar in the manufacture of fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers is strong and growth is likely to exceed 5%py, once the global economy recovers.

The addition rates of metspar flux in the steel industry have been declining. Thus, while crude steel output reached record levels in 2007, consumption of metspar fell as old steel mills were replaced and the use of alternative fluxes increased. Demand for metspar in steel will continue to decline.

Demand for fluorspar in the manufacture of aluminium fluoride and synthetic cryolite used in aluminium smelters has grown by 6-7%py from 2000 to 2007. Future growth will be tempered by a decline in unit consumption as smelting technology improves. Other factors that could limit demand for fluorspar, despite continued growth in aluminium production, are the increased use of FSA as a source of fluorine for AlF3 and increased recycling of fluorine units at the smelter.

Over the next five years, prices are likely to stabilise as environmental pressures moderate demand. Although some Chinese fluorspar has been removed from global trade this has been largely offset by increased production in Mongolia and Mexico and by exports of fluorspar derivatives from China. The easing of prices seen at the end of 2008 is likely to continue through 2009.
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