From steelmaking to lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors to photovoltaics, fluorspar (calcium fluoride), a seemingly ordinary mineral, is quietly becoming the “invisible heart” of global industrial chains.
Fluorspar: From “Industrial MSG” to “Strategic Resource”
Rich in fluorine, fluorspar (CaF₂) is hailed as the “mother of fluorine chemistry,” with applications spanning the lifeblood of modern industry:
Traditional Sectors: Steel flux, refrigerants, glass ceramics, supporting a trillion-dollar market.
Emerging Tracks: Lithium-ion batteries (lithium hexafluorophosphate), photovoltaics (fluorine backsheets), semiconductors (etching gases), driving explosive demand growth.
China boasts the second-largest fluorspar reserves globally. Due to environmental regulations (over 60% of mines closed in Inner Mongolia, Zhejiang, and other regions), imports have surged in 2024, with new energy and semiconductor demand accounting for over 40%. Fluorspar has evolved from an "industrial MSG" to a "strategic mineral."
Looking Ahead: Three Key Trends (2025-2027)
Trend 1: Intensified Resource Competition – High-Grade Wins
By 2025, demand from the new energy sector could reach 1.5 million tons, while demand for semiconductor-grade fluorinated gases is projected to grow at an average annual rate of over 60%. Securing upstream resources (mines, long-term contracts) is paramount.
Trend 2: Price Volatility at High Levels – Profits Shift Towards Technology
Environmental costs (mine remediation investments exceeding millions per enterprise) + rising international freight rates suggest that the price center may continue to rise in 2025. Transforming through technological empowerment and partnering with leading fluorine chemical companies to enter the high-end semiconductor supply chain is crucial.
Trend 3: Policy Framework – A "Dual Circulation" Game
Leveraging free trade agreements (such as RCEP tariff preferences) will be key to success.
Resource is King: Securing long-term mine contracts before 2025 and diversifying geopolitical risks are essential strategies.
The global fluorspar game over the next three years will reshape the industrial chain landscape. Only by staying attuned to policies, cultivating technology, and securing resources can companies weather the storm.
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