The domestic fluorite price trend has slightly declined this week. As of the weekend, the average domestic fluorite price was 3743.75 yuan/ton, a decrease of 0.83% from the beginning of the week price of 3775 yuan/ton and a year-on-year increase of 5.46%.
Supply side: Some manufacturers have started production, and the supply of fluorite has increased
The current situation of the game in the domestic fluorite industry still exists. Overall, the operating rate of enterprises has not changed much. Upstream mining is tight, backward mines will continue to be eliminated, and new mines will be added. Mineral investigation work is still difficult. In addition, national departments need to rectify fluorite mines, and fluorite mining enterprises are facing increasingly strict safety and environmental protection requirements. The difficulty of operating fluorite mines has increased, and the shortage of raw materials has limited the operation of fluorite enterprises. The supply of fluorite sources is still tight. However, as the temperature rises, the previously suspended enterprises gradually start working, and the supply of fluorite enterprises on site has increased. This week, the fluorite market has slightly declined.
Demand side: The price of hydrofluoric acid is temporarily stable, and the refrigerant market is still acceptable
This week, the domestic price of hydrofluoric acid has remained stable, and the mainstream price for hydrofluoric acid negotiations in various regions of China is 11700-12200 yuan/ton. The downstream hydrofluoric acid units are still shut down, and there is little change in the spot supply of hydrofluoric acid. Manufacturers mainly purchase hydrofluoric acid on demand, and the overall production of hydrofluoric acid remains at more than 50%. Fluorine enterprises maintain essential orders, and hydrofluoric acid enterprises are in a loss making state. They are not actively purchasing raw material fluorite, and the fluorite price market has slightly declined due to this news.
The downstream refrigerant market in the terminal is still promising, and the terminal policies of the refrigerant industry are being strengthened. Demand is expected to achieve substantial improvement, and fluorine chemical enterprises within quota control have strong confidence in raising prices in the refrigerant market. Currently, the pace of high price procurement is relatively slow, but the industry’s inventory is transmitting in a positive and orderly manner, and upstream products are mainly purchased on demand. The trend of refrigerant market is temporarily stable, while there is little change in the fluorite market.
In addition to the traditional demand in the refrigerant industry, fluorite, as an important mineral raw material for modern industry, is constantly developing in emerging fields. It is also applied in strategic emerging industries such as new energy and new materials, as well as in national defense, nuclear industry and other fields, including lithium hexafluorophosphate, PVDF、 Graphite negative electrodes, photovoltaic panels, etc., have received certain support in the application of fluorite due to the demand for new energy and semiconductors.
Market forecast: In the near future, the supply of domestic fluorite mines is difficult to improve, and some mines have stopped production and undergone safety inspections. The tight supply of fluorite mines is a major positive support for the fluorite market. However, downstream resistance to high prices is serious, and hydrofluoric acid enterprises mainly purchase on demand without actual demand increase. Overall, the fluorite market price is mainly fluctuating in the short term.