The fluorspar mining industry is a dynamic global market, with a few key players dominating production and a number of smaller companies entering the scene. The landscape is also influenced by geopolitical factors, as countries with significant reserves often control export quotas to support their domestic industries.
Fluorspar Major Global Players
- Orbia (Koura Global): A major player with a significant presence in Mexico. Orbia’s Koura division operates the world’s largest fluorspar mine, the Las Cuevas mine in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The company is a key producer of both metallurgical and acid-grade fluorspar and has a vertically integrated value chain, from mining to the production of downstream fluorochemicals.
- 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.
- Masan High-Tech Materials (MHT): Based in Vietnam, Masan operates the Nui Phao mine, which is one of the world’s largest tungsten, fluorspar, and bismuth deposits. Masan is a significant supplier of acid-grade fluorspar to global markets.
- MINERSA Group: This is a Spanish company with a long history in fluorspar production. MINERSA is one of Europe’s largest fluorspar producers and also has mining operations in South Africa.
- CleanTech Vanadium Mining Corp. (“CleanTech CTV”): critical mineral explorer and miner focused on vanadium and fluorspar projects in North America.
- Fluorsid S.p.A.: An Italian company that is a major refiner and downstream producer of acid-grade fluorspar and fluorochemicals. It has a presence in Norway and Switzerland.
- Mongolrostsvetmet: A joint venture between Mongolian and Russian interests, this company is a major producer in Mongolia, which is one of the world’s top three fluorspar-producing countries. The company operates the Bor-Undur underground mine and the Khukh Del open-pit mine.
The fluorspar mining industry is a dynamic global market, with a few key players dominating production and a number of smaller companies entering the scene. The landscape is also influenced by geopolitical factors, as countries with significant reserves often control export quotas to support their domestic industries.
Here is an overview of some of the major fluorspar mining companies and the countries where they operate:
Emerging and Developing Producers
- CleanTech CTV.: This company is developing the Lost Sheep Mine in Utah, with the goal of becoming the sole fluorspar producer in the United States. This is a significant development given the U.S. reliance on fluorspar imports.
- Sofax Fluorspar Kenya Ltd.: This UK-backed consortium is planning to restart operations at the Kimwarer mine in Kenya, which was a major producer of acid-grade fluorspar until operations were halted in 2016.
- Deutsche Flussspat: A German company working to bring a fluorspar mine back into production to supply the German industry, particularly for electric vehicle (EV) battery requirements.
