Fluorspar - Production, Reserves & Supply Concentration
The mineral feedstock for fluorochemicals and a flux in metal production.The series covers fluorspar mineral production and reserves. Acid-grade and metallurgical-grade fluorspar serve different industrial markets.
Fluorspar Global Production & Country Share
Measure: Mine production (thousand metric tons)
Fluorspar Production by Country (2020-2025)
Mine production · Unit: thousand metric tons
| Rank | Country | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e | Share | 5Y Chg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 5,400 | 5,700 | 5,700 | 5,700 | 6,000 | 6,000 | 60.0% | +11.1% |
| #2 | Mexico | 915 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,510 | 1,500 | 15.0% | +63.9% |
| #2 | Mongolia | 685 | 650 | 425 | 930 | 1,430 | 1,500 | 15.0% | +119.0% |
| #4 | South Africa | 330 | 403 | 406 | 410 | 447 | 410 | 4.1% | +24.2% |
| #5 | Vietnam | 220 | 215 | 218 | 170 | 146 | 160 | 1.6% | -27.3% |
| #6 | Spain | 131 | 155 | 153 | 150 | 138 | 140 | 1.4% | +6.9% |
| #7 | Brazil | - | - | - | - | 85 | 100 | 1.0% | - |
| #8 | Iran | 56 | 50 | 116 | 120 | 53 | 70 | 0.7% | +25.0% |
| #9 | Thailand | - | - | - | - | 75 | 55 | 0.6% | - |
| #10 | Pakistan | 55 | 65 | 52 | 52 | 60 | 50 | 0.5% | -9.1% |
| #11 | Germany | 80 | 65 | 60 | 60 | 35 | 35 | 0.3% | -56.2% |
| #12 | Tajikistan | - | - | - | - | 15 | 15 | 0.1% | - |
| - | World Total | 8,240 | 8,680 | 8,320 | 8,800 | 10,300 | 10,000 | 100.0% | +21.4% |
Fluorspar Proven Reserves by Country (2025)
Basis: Reserves · Unit: thousand metric tons · Global Implied Reserve Life: 33 years
| Rank | Country | Reserves (thousand metric tons) | World Share | USGS Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | China | 110,000 | 33.3% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #2 | Mexico | 68,000 | 20.6% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #3 | South Africa | 41,000 | 12.4% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #4 | Mongolia | 34,000 | 10.3% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #5 | Vietnam | 16,000 | 4.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #6 | Spain | 15,000 | 4.5% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #7 | Iran | 7,600 | 2.3% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #8 | Thailand | 3,600 | 1.1% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| #9 | Brazil | 2,500 | 0.8% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
| - | World Total Reserves | 330,000 | 100.0% | See Appendix C for resource and reserve definitions and information concerning data sources. |
U.S. Supply, Consumption & Net Import Reliance (2021-2025)
| Salient Measure | Unit | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025e |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorspar: Production: Finished, metallurgical grade | thousand metric tons | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Fluorspar: Production: Fluorosilicic acid from phosphate rock | thousand metric tons | 40 | 43 | 43 | 45 | 45 |
| Fluorspar: Imports for consumption: Acid grade | thousand metric tons | 391 | 448 | 378 | 372 | 360 |
| Fluorspar: Imports for consumption: Metallurgical grade | thousand metric tons | 59 | 84 | 34 | 31 | 20 |
| Fluorspar: Imports for consumption: Total fluorspar imports | thousand metric tons | 451 | 532 | 412 | 403 | 380 |
| Fluorspar: Imports for consumption: Hydrofluoric acid | thousand metric tons | 103 | 99 | 87 | 69 | 76 |
| Fluorspar: Imports for consumption: Aluminum fluoride | thousand metric tons | 28 | 21 | 25 | 22 | 20 |
| Fluorspar: Imports for consumption: Cryolite | thousand metric tons | 42 | 28 | 32 | 22 | 21 |
| Fluorspar: Exports, fluorspar, all grades | thousand metric tons | 15 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 7 |
| Fluorspar: Consumption, apparent | thousand metric tons | 436 | 508 | 392 | 390 | 370 |
| Fluorspar: Employment, mine, number | number | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
| Fluorspar: U.S. Net Import Reliance | % of consumption | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Frequently Asked Questions - Fluorspar
Which country leads fluorspar production (mine production)?
China leads the 2025 USGS country table for mine production, with 6,000 thousand metric tons (estimated) (60.0% of the reported world total). World output was 10,000 thousand metric tons in 2025.
Which country holds the largest reported fluorspar reserves?
China ranks first in the USGS reserve table, with 110,000 thousand metric tons (Reserves) (33.3% of the reported world total) against a reported world total of 330,000 thousand metric tons.
What is US net import reliance and import sourcing for fluorspar?
In 2025, US net import reliance was reported at 100% (Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption). Across 2021-24, leading US import sources (All) were Mexico (64%), Vietnam (12%), China (10%).
How is fluorspar classified on the US Critical Minerals List and what are its primary uses?
Status: Listed on 2025 US List (2022 & 2025 lists). Primary applications cited in USGS summaries include: Hydrofluoric acid feedstock, fluoropolymers, refrigerants, aluminum smelting flux (aluminum fluoride), and steelmaking flux. Fluorspar is the commercial name for fluorite (CaF₂). Acid-grade fluorspar (>97% CaF₂) feeds chemical and fluorocarbon plants, whereas metallurgical-grade (<97% CaF₂) is used as a steelmaking flux.