Fluorspar
Fluorspar is the commercial name for the mineral fluorite, calcium fluoride, and it is the only significant source of fluorine for industry. Acid grade fluorspar is reacted with sulphuric acid to make hydrofluoric acid, which in turn is the starting point for refrigerants, fluoropolymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, the fluorochemicals used in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, aluminium fluoride for the smelters, and the uranium hexafluoride of the nuclear fuel cycle. Metallurgical grade is used as a flux in steelmaking and foundry work, where it lowers the melting point of slag and helps strip sulphur and phosphorus. Ceramic grade goes into opal glass, enamel, glazes and welding rod coatings.
Listed fluorspar markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
A fluorspar contract turns on the calcium fluoride assay, on the silica and carbonate that are penalised against it, and on the physical form, because acid grade moves as a filter cake and metallurgical grade as lump, gravel or briquette.
Chemical assay
12 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Calcium fluoridePercentage by mass | Determined by the wet chemical reference method or by X-ray fluorescence under ISO 12677. It is the payable content and the basis of the grade name. |
| Effective calcium fluoridePercentage by mass, calculated | The assay less the accepted deduction for silica, applied on metallurgical grade because silica consumes flux in the furnace. The deduction formula is written into the contract. |
| Silica as silicon dioxidePercentage by mass, maximum | The principal penalty element. On acid grade it consumes acid and forms silicon tetrafluoride, and on metallurgical grade it is deducted from the payable units. |
| Calcium carbonatePercentage by mass, maximum | Penalised on acid grade because it consumes sulphuric acid and generates carbon dioxide in the kiln. |
| Sulphur, total and as sulphidePercentage by mass, maximum | Sulphide sulphur from residual galena and pyrite is a rejection term on acid grade because it carries into the hydrofluoric acid. |
| ArsenicMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | A specification and a regulatory term. Acid grade destined for fluorochemical use carries a tight ceiling. |
| PhosphorusPercentage by mass, maximum | Controlled on metallurgical grade because it reports to the steel. |
| Lead and zincPercentage by mass, maximum | Residuals from the sulphide flotation circuit, penalised on acid grade. |
| Iron as ferric oxidePercentage by mass, maximum | A colour and purity term, tightest on ceramic grade destined for opal glass and enamel. |
| Barium sulphatePercentage by mass, maximum | Barite reporting with the concentrate, penalised where it dilutes the payable fluoride. |
| ChlorideMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Controlled on acid grade because chloride is corrosive in the acid plant. |
| Organic carbon and residual flotation reagentPercentage by mass, maximum | Carried over from the flotation circuit. It darkens the kiln feed and is a specification term on acid grade. |
Physical properties
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Grade classDeclared, as acid, ceramic or metallurgical | The primary commercial division. It is set by the assay and by the impurity ceilings, and each class runs to a different test schedule. |
| FormDeclared, as filter cake, dried powder, lump, gravel, pellet or briquette | Acid grade normally moves as a damp filter cake or a dried powder, metallurgical grade as sized lump or briquette. The form is a contract term because it governs the handling at both ends. |
| MoisturePercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying. Acid grade filter cake is shipped wet by design and the moisture figure drives both the freight and the dry weight settlement. |
| Bulk densityKilograms per cubic metre | Loose and tapped, setting the hold, the silo and the bag. |
| Briquette strengthNewtons per briquette, or the drop and tumble figure | For briquetted metallurgical grade, whether the briquette survives handling and reaches the furnace intact. |
| Fines content of sized materialPercentage by mass below the stated aperture | Fines blow off the charge and are a deduction on lump grade. |
| Handling and caking behaviourReported against the named method | Wet filter cake sets in the hold and the discharge method is agreed before loading. |
Particle size and sizing
4 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Sizing of lump and gravel gradeMillimetres, as the stated band, with the percentage by mass within band | Determined on screens conforming to ISO 3310. The size band is the grade for furnace feed. |
| Fineness of acid gradePercentage by mass passing the stated aperture | The flotation concentrate is milled fine and the fineness governs the reaction rate in the kiln. |
| Particle size distributionMicrometres, by percentile | Determined by laser diffraction under ISO 13320 where the fine fraction is specified. |
| Oversize and undersize tolerancePercentage by mass, maximum | Agreed as part of the sizing clause rather than left to the screen report. |
Contaminants and regulated substances
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Soluble fluorideMilligrams per kilogram | Determined by the leach named in the contract. It governs the dust and water handling controls at the receiving plant. |
| RadionuclidesBecquerels per kilogram | Screened where the deposit or the destination requires it, with the method and the limit named. |
| Respirable crystalline silicaPercentage by mass | Declared on the safety data sheet, driving the dust controls. |
| Chemical registration and hazard classificationDeclared | Fluorspar and the acid grade in particular are regulated substances at most destinations, and the registration is named on the contract. |
| Origin due diligenceDeclared | Country and mine of origin, and the responsible sourcing statement where the destination or the buyer policy requires it. |
Delivery, documentation and certification
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Form and packingDeclared | Bulk, big bags of a stated net weight, paper or polywoven bags palletised and shrink wrapped, or containerised bulk in liners. The pack is a price term because it drives the handling cost at both ends. |
| Moisture at loadingPercentage by mass, maximum | Determined by oven drying on a loading sample. Moisture is paid for as mineral unless the contract sets a dry weight basis, so it is always specified. |
| Weight basisDeclared | Wet or dry metric tonnes, on shipped weight or landed weight, with the survey house named and the draft survey or weighbridge method stated. |
| Sampling and assay protocolDeclared | Who samples, at which point, to what standard, how the sample is split and sealed, and which laboratory umpires a dispute. It is agreed before loading, not after. |
| Transportable moisture limitPercentage by mass | Where the cargo is a group A material under the maritime bulk cargoes code, the flow moisture point and the transportable moisture limit are certified before loading. |
| Safety data sheetDocument, to the globally harmonised system format | Classification, handling and respirable crystalline silica statement, supplied with every consignment. |
| Certificate of analysisDocument, per lot | Issued by the named laboratory against the contract specification, referencing the lot and the sampling record. |
| Regulatory registrationDeclared | Chemical registration at the destination where the mineral requires one, named on the contract. |
| Origin and due diligenceDeclared, with the mine or plant named | Country of origin, the mine or processing plant, and where required the responsible sourcing statement. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| China | East Asia | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | North America | Origin and destination |
| South Africa | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Viet Nam | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Kazakhstan | Central Asia | Origin and destination |
| Russian Federation | Eurasia | Origin and destination |
| Morocco | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Kenya | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tanzania, United Republic of | East Africa | Origin and destination |
| Namibia | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| United Kingdom | Northern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Western Europe | Destination |
| Italy | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| France | Western Europe | Origin and destination |
| Netherlands | Northwest Europe | Destination and trading hub |
| Belgium | Northwest Europe | Destination |
| Poland | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Czechia | Central Europe | Origin and destination |
| Bulgaria | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
| Romania | Southeast Europe | Origin and destination |
| Ukraine | Eastern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Turkiye | Europe and Anatolia | Origin and destination |
| Greece | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| Iran | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Destination and trading hub |
| Egypt | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Algeria | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Tunisia | North Africa | Origin and destination |
| Nigeria | West Africa | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | South America | Origin and destination |
| Argentina | South America | Origin and destination |
| Chile | South America | Origin and destination |
| Peru | South America | Origin and destination |
| Colombia | South America | Origin and destination |
| Bolivia, Plurinational State of | South America | Origin and destination |
| United States | North America | Origin and destination |
| Canada | North America | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Oceania | Origin and destination |
| India | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Japan | East Asia | Destination |
| Korea, Republic of | East Asia | Destination |
| Thailand | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | Southeast Asia | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | South Asia | Origin and destination |
| Singapore | Southeast Asia | Trading and finance |
| Switzerland | Western Europe | Trading and finance |
| Israel | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Qatar | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Oman | Middle East | Origin and destination |
| Zimbabwe | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Mozambique | Southern Africa | Origin and destination |
| Portugal | Southern Europe | Origin and destination |
| New Zealand | Oceania | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Production is when the mineral is mined and processed at origin, which follows the mine plan and the weather at the pit rather than a crop season. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is drying, grading, bagging and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecThe largest producer of both acid and metallurgical grade, with the export programme shaped by domestic fluorochemical demand and by mining policy rather than by season. |
| Mexico | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecCoahuila and San Luis Potosi produce the benchmark acid grade filter cake, shipping through the Gulf ports to North America and Europe. |
| Mongolia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival Jun to DecMetallurgical and acid grade moving overland to China. Winter conditions restrict open pit mining and haulage. | |||
| South Africa | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecAcid grade production from the Bushveld, shipping through Durban and Richards Bay. |
| Viet Nam | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecAcid grade concentrate production supplying the regional fluorochemical industry. |
| Spain | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecAsturias production supplying the European acid and ceramic grade market. |
| Kazakhstan | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival May to NovProduction moving overland into the Russian and Chinese markets, with the winter limiting the mining season. | ||||
| Morocco | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecAcid grade production shipping to Europe through the Atlantic ports. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and tonnage already sitting in a destination warehouse or terminal.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for fluorspar. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading2529.21 Fluorspar containing 97 per cent or less by weight of calcium fluoride
2529.22 Fluorspar containing more than 97 per cent by weight of calcium fluoride - PackingBulk in a lined container, 1 t big bags, or 25 kg to 50 kg paper or PP bags on pallets. Moisture and particle size distribution stated on the certificate of analysis at load.
- Container loading20ft: 26 t to 28 t bulk or big bag. Weight limited well before volume. Check the road weight limit at the destination before fixing the box size.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on typical analysis with a certificate of analysis at load port and an umpire clause. ASTM and API specifications where they exist, including API 13A for drilling grade barite and bentonite. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsEU REACH registration above one tonne per importer per year, respirable crystalline silica exposure controls under Directive 2017/2398, asbestos screening for talc and vermiculite, NORM screening on heavy mineral products, and food, pharmacopoeia or cosmetic grade certification where the end use requires it.
Common questions
What grades of fluorspar does SIP Global trade?
We quote 37 published grades of fluorspar, including Calcium fluoride - Percentage by mass, Effective calcium fluoride - Percentage by mass, calculated, Silica as silicon dioxide - Percentage by mass, maximum, Calcium carbonate - Percentage by mass, maximum, Sulphur, total and as sulphide - Percentage by mass, maximum and Arsenic - Milligrams per kilogram, maximum. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is fluorspar graded?
A fluorspar contract turns on the calcium fluoride assay, on the silica and carbonate that are penalised against it, and on the physical form, because acid grade moves as a filter cake and metallurgical grade as lump, gravel or briquette. Grading runs on 5 systems: Chemical assay, Physical properties, Particle size and sizing, Contaminants and regulated substances and Delivery, documentation and certification.
Where does SIP Global trade fluorspar?
We trade fluorspar in China, Mexico, South Africa, Viet Nam, Spain, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Morocco and 48 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is fluorspar harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are China: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Mexico: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Mongolia: harvest apr to oct, arrival jun to dec; South Africa: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Viet Nam: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for fluorspar?
Fluorspar is normally classified under HS 2529.21 (fluorspar containing 97 per cent or less by weight of calcium fluoride) and HS 2529.22 (fluorspar containing more than 97 per cent by weight of calcium fluoride). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for fluorspar?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed fluorspar market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.