Fluorspar (Acidspar & Metspar)

Acidspar above 97% CaF₂ for HF plants; metspar at 97% or less for steel flux

Fluorspar is calcium fluoride, and the market splits at one number. Acid-grade fluorspar, acidspar, is a flotation concentrate with CaF₂ above 97%; it is the feed for hydrofluoric acid and, through it, for refrigerants, fluoropolymers, aluminium fluoride and lithium-battery electrolytes. Anything at 97% CaF₂ or below is called metallurgical grade, metspar, because its main use is as a flux in steelmaking, where it thins the slag and helps remove sulphur and phosphorus, and in foundries and cement kilns. The customs code follows the same split: HS 2529.22 for fluorspar over 97% CaF₂ and HS 2529.21 for 97% or less. Beyond CaF₂, acidspar buyers police silica, carbonate, sulphur and trace elements that consume sulphuric acid or contaminate the HF, and moisture on a filter cake; metspar buyers buy lumps or briquettes on CaF₂ and size so the flux dissolves in the ladle.

UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations show a small, concentrated trade. Under HS 2529.22 (acidspar), about USD 208 million, South Africa leads at 50.3%, followed by Spain at 15.6%, China at 12.8%, Mexico at 5.8%, Germany and Morocco; under HS 2529.21 (metspar), about USD 205 million, China leads at 39.3%, with Italy, the Netherlands, Thailand, Pakistan, Mexico and South Africa behind. Mexico's Las Cuevas mine near San Luis Potosí, operated by Koura, is the largest fluorite mine in the world; USGS reports that Mexico supplied 64% of US fluorspar imports in 2021–24, with Viet Nam at 12%, China at 10% and South Africa at 9%. In Viet Nam, the Nui Phao polymetallic mine yields a 97% CaF₂ concentrate, and in Kenya, Sofax Fluorspar mines acidspar in the Kerio Valley for export through Mombasa. China, the largest mine producer at an estimated six million tonnes in 2025 (USGS), added fluorspar to its export licence catalogue effective 1 January 2026, so Chinese material ships only with a licence issued at origin. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers acidspar and metspar against SGS, Bureau Veritas or Intertek analysis of CaF₂, SiO₂, CaCO₃, S, moisture and size, with a certificate of origin and, for Chinese material, the export licence. Supply is in bulk parcels or 1 MT jumbo bags in containers on FOB, CFR and CIF terms, and because CBIL also runs a chartering desk (LaycanDesk), the bulk freight leg is quoted alongside. Price is agreed per lot on grade; Fastmarkets, Argus and SMM publish fluorspar assessments used as references. Send your grade, CaF₂ floor, impurity ceilings, form and annual tonnage and we will work the origin to it.

Need the ship as well? Our chartering desk prices bulk limestone, gypsum and aggregates freight on LaycanDesk.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.