Fluorite market sentiment has cooled, with increased wait-and-see attitudes among participants.
The mainstream delivered price for Anhydrous Hydrofluoric Acid (AHF) October contracts is referenced at 14,500–15,000 RMB/ton.
Insufficient demand follow-through for AHF has led to a contraction in capacity utilization rates, intensifying the supply-demand tug-of-war.
This week, the domestic market for 97% fluorite concentrate witnessed strong wait-and-see sentiment. Following the holiday break, market participants displayed cautious attitudes, primarily driven by reluctance to sell among holders. Northern markets have largely completed their phased procurement operations, with purchasing centers fluctuating within a narrow range of 0–50 RMB/ton. In contrast, overall participation in Southern markets remained low, mainly due to downstream pressure on prices and increasingly significant cost compression from the sulfuric acid market. Additionally, the relatively larger decline in monthly pricing for hydrogen fluoride in Southern regions continued to erode trader confidence. Although some inventory holders maintained firm asking prices, the actual transaction center showed a persistent slight downward trend, with some end-users still waiting for further bearish news to materialize. Current spot delivered price references across major domestic regions are as follows: Inner Mongolia 3,350–3,500 RMB/ton; Zhejiang 3,500–3,600 RMB/ton; Jiangxi and Fujian 3,750–3,800 RMB/ton; Shandong 3,550–3,650 RMB/ton; Northwest China 3,400–3,450 RMB/ton; Henan and Anhui 3,450–3,500 RMB/ton. As of press time, the mainstream delivered price for domestic fluorite wet powder is referenced at 3,350–3,800 RMB/ton.
Weekly Market Trends for Anhydrous Hydrofluoric Acid (AHF):
This week, the domestic AHF market experienced a counter-trend rebound in sentiment. Regarding prices, last week’s AHF contract settlements saw declines ranging from 200 to 600 RMB/ton. However, most producers’ quoted prices did not fluctuate significantly, with drops generally limited to 200–300 RMB/ton or remaining stable. On the raw material side, fluorite prices fluctuated within a narrow range, exerting limited impact on costs. Conversely, the sulfuric acid market has been persistently rising recently. Southern sulfuric acid enterprises enjoyed smooth shipments before and during the holiday, reducing inventory pressure and driving prices up in stages, thereby continuously increasing cost pressures. The combination of rising costs, supply gaps, and renewed demand inquiries led to a recovery in negotiation activity within the market. Major northern plants have yet to announce restart expectations, deepening the speculative atmosphere among participants. The market awaits further information for guidance. As of press time, the mainstream delivered price for AHF in the East China market for October is referenced at 14,500–14,800 RMB/ton, while the Shandong market is referenced at 14,760–15,000 RMB/ton.
In summary, market participants currently hold divergent views, with an overall bearish tilt. Unentered demand-side buyers continue to apply price pressure, and the tug-of-war between process stages remains ongoing. Chempricehub forecasts that the domestic fluorite market will trade within a fluctuating range next week.
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