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Consumption of fluorspar in the United States, Western Europe and Japan rose to a total of about 2.1 million metric tons in 2004, from 2.0 million metric tons in 2001. The majority of fluorspar consumption in these three regions was for the production of hydrofluoric acid, followed by use for aluminum smelting and steel manufacturing.
In 2004, world production of fluorspar was almost 5 million metric tons, with a value of about $650 million. Since the 2000–2001 economic recession, world fluorspar production has shown uneven recovery, with production rising in 2001, falling in 2002, and then rising again in 2003 and 2004. In 2004, production was substantially lower than 1988, when world production peaked at 5.6 million metric tons. The leading fluorspar producing nation in 2004 was China, which accounted for 55% of world production, compared with 33% in 1990.
Fluorspar supply/demand data for the major world regions are shown in the following graph:
Historically, hydrofluoric acid has been the largest-volume fluorine compound consumed. During the early and mid-1980s, an increase in demand for chlorinated fluorocarbons (CFCs) and fluoropolymers stimulated hydrofluoric acid demand. This demand softened and declined in the early 1990s as the international phaseout of the production of CFCs (to reduce stratospheric ozone depletion) consequently decreased hydrofluoric acid demand.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s the use of fluorocarbons in refrigeration and air conditioning began to decline in European and Japanese markets, in response to greenhouse gas reduction goals as proposed under the Kyoto Protocol. In 2004, hydrofluoric acid consumption in the United States, Western Europe and Japan rebounded as a result of greater production of more fluorine-intensive CFC alternatives. Hydrofluoric acid supply/demand data are shown in the following graph:
While overall world consumption growth of fluorspar and fluorine compounds is expected to be moderate, China will have a significant impact on global fluorspar and fluorine compounds supply and demand over the next five years.
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