The global fluorspar mining industry is concentrated, with a handful of major companies dominating production, trade, and the downstream fluorochemical market. These companies operate in countries with significant fluorspar reserves, primarily China, Mexico, and Mongolia.
Major Global Players
- Orbia (Koura Global): A global leader in fluorspar, Orbia operates the world’s largest fluorspar mine, the Las Cuevas mine in Mexico. The company is vertically integrated, meaning it not only mines fluorspar but also uses it to produce a wide range of fluorochemicals, including refrigerants and advanced materials for batteries and semiconductors. Their production of both acid-grade and metallurgical-grade fluorspar makes them a pivotal supplier to industries worldwide.
- China Kings Resources Group Co., Ltd.: As China is the largest fluorspar producer, several major companies operate within the country. China Kings Resources is one of the leading names in the Chinese fluorspar industry, with a substantial presence in the production and distribution of the mineral.
- Masan High-Tech Materials (MHT): Based in Vietnam, Masan is a key player with its Nui Phao mine, one of the world’s largest polymetallic deposits. The company is a significant supplier of acid-grade fluorspar, particularly for the Asian and European markets, and is known for its focus on high-tech materials.
- MINERSA Group: A major European company with a long history in fluorspar production. MINERSA operates mines in Spain and South Africa, making it a critical supplier for the European market and other global consumers.
- Mongolrostsvetmet: A joint venture between Mongolian and Russian interests, this company is the largest fluorspar producer in Mongolia. It operates the Bor-Undur mine, which is a major source of both acid-grade and metallurgical-grade fluorspar for export to its neighbors and other parts of the world.Emerging and Re-emerging Producers The strategic importance of fluorspar as a critical mineral has prompted new projects and the revival of old ones to diversify the global supply chain, which is heavily concentrated in China.
- CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp. (CleanTech CTV): This company is working to re-establish fluorspar production in the United States. It is developing projects in the historic Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District, including the Campbell-Crotser Fluorspar Project in Kentucky. CleanTech CTV’s goal is to become a reliable domestic fluorspar producer, reducing U.S. reliance on imports and supporting industries such as steel, chemicals, and electric vehicle batteries.
- Fluorspar Holdings Pte Ltd (Canada): After its former owner ceased operations, a new entity, Fluorspar Holdings, is working to restart the St. Lawrence fluorspar mine in Newfoundland, Canada. This project aims to bring a significant new source of fluorspar to the North American market. Sofax Fluorspar Kenya Ltd: This consortium is planning to restart operations at the Kimwarer mine in Kenya, which was a major producer of acid-grade fluorspar until it was idled in 2016. Its successful reopening would add another important source of supply.
