Independent research. Kastra Research does not sell commodities, distribute equipment, or accept vendor or transaction-based compensation.
US net import reliance
100%, 2025
no mine output since 1995
Mexico share of US imports
64%, 2021–24
under a concession moratorium
Acid-grade unit value
$470/t CIF, 2025E
+52% vs 2020
Sulphur cost added per t HF
$500–600Feb–May 26
55–66% of fluorspar bill
China imports, H1 2025
856kt
+48% y/y, 86% Mongolia
Highlights
  • Fluorspar, the mineral calcium fluoride, is the source of almost all industrial fluorine. About half of it is turned into hydrofluoric acid (HF) P, the feedstock for refrigerants, fluoropolymers, battery chemicals, aluminium smelting and the uranium hexafluoride that enrichment plants run on. The United States has been 100% net import reliant P and imported 380,000 tonnes in 2025 P.
  • HF is made by reacting fluorspar with sulphuric acid, and in 2026 that second input moved violently. Between late February and early May, sulphuric acid at the US Gulf rose from $155 to $400 a tonne S. Per tonne of HF that adds roughly $500 to $600 of raw material cost KR, or 55% to 66% of the entire fluorspar bill. A Mexican integrated fluorspar and fluorochemical producer cited higher sulphur costs in its second-quarter results P.
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