The fluorspar market is strongly sentiment-driven, with offers at high levels.
The September mainstream contract delivered price for anhydrous hydrofluoric acid is referenced at 15,050–15,200 yuan/mt, while the spot market is referenced at 15,500–16,000 yuan/mt.
Demand follow-through for anhydrous hydrofluoric acid is insufficient, capacity utilization has retreated, and the supply-demand game has deepened.
This week, the domestic 97% fluorspar concentrate powder market fluctuated within a range, with strong wait-and-see sentiment. Recently, inquiry and trading activity in the market has declined from earlier levels. Most downstream buyers have completed their phased procurement, and participants are mainly delivering contract orders. Market sentiment is mixed, with differing views on the outlook. Some participants believe that the sharp rise in the focus of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid spot orders will provide support for fluorspar participants, and that market supply has contracted year on year, making procurement more difficult than in previous years. Others remain generally relaxed and mainly follow the market. With continued inflows of imported supply and varying fluorspar powder inventories among downstream buyers, some are successively restocking. At the same time, future demand is expected to decline noticeably, so upward support lacks staying power. Downstream operating rates are generally low, constrained by plant maintenance, and their absorption capacity is limited. Current spot delivered prices in various domestic regions are referenced as follows: Inner Mongolia, 3,300–3,400 yuan/mt; Zhejiang, 3,500–3,600 yuan/mt; Jiangxi and Fujian, 3,700–3,800 yuan/mt; Shandong, 3,550–3,600 yuan/mt; Northwest China, 3,400–3,500 yuan/mt; Henan and Anhui, 3,400–3,500 yuan/mt. As of press time, the mainstream delivered price of domestic fluorspar wet powder is referenced at 3,300–3,800 yuan/mt.
This week, the domestic anhydrous hydrofluoric acid market saw an upward shift in its center of gravity, with limited trading. On the cost side, the fluorspar market has been generally stable recently, mainly delivering contract orders, and price increases have largely reflected the implementation of previous high prices. The sulfuric acid market remains loose, with insufficient demand follow-through, and further declines are expected before the holiday. Overall cost-side fluctuations are limited, with gains and losses offsetting each other. On the supply side, conditions are regionally tight. In particular, bullish sentiment has been strong in the northern market recently, and frequent high-priced spot deals have boosted market sentiment. However, except for a few regions, most regions report that the market is mainly delivering contract orders. Downstream demand follow-through is generally weak. As the weather turns cooler, rigid demand consumption for refrigerants is weakening, while terminal production plans continue to shrink, continuously transmitting bearish pressure to the raw material side. Lithium hexafluorophosphate continues to operate at high load, mainly to fulfill agreed orders, but spot transactions during the week were limited, and overall demand has declined. As of press time, in September, the mainstream delivered price in the domestic anhydrous hydrofluoric acid East China market is referenced at 15,050–15,200 yuan/mt, while the spot market delivered price is referenced at 15,500–16,000 yuan/mt.
In summary, the bullish tone in the fluorspar market has eased from earlier levels, and participants are cautious. They are watching not only the recovery situation of major northern plants but also future demand consumption. Chempricehub expects that next week the domestic fluorspar market will fluctuate within a range.
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