Fluorspar, the commercial name for fluorite (CaF2) is a critical commodity. The annual worldwide market for fluorspar is estimated at $2.4 billion. World reserves of fluorspar are estimated at 240 million tonnes with annual production of 6.2 million tonnes in 2011 at an average price of $400/tonne.
Since 2003, the average selling price of fluorspar has increased from $130/tonne to an average of $400/tonne, with current prices for acid grade fluorspar reaching a high of $400-450/tonne in Europe and the US. (May 2013 Industrial Minerals Magazine).
Approximately 70% of world production is acid grade fluorspar known as "acidspar", it is used to manufacture primarily hydrofluoric acid (HF) and aluminum fluoride (AlF3). Aluminum Fluoride is a main input in the production of aluminum metal. Hydrofluoric acid is the main input for major downstream fluorochemical uses of fluorspar such as fluorocarbons (refrigerants, surfactants and aerosols) and fluoropolymers (Teflon and other friction, corrosion and heat resistant products). Ceramic grade and metallurgical grade fluorspar are used for flux in aluminum and steel production, and in the manufacture of ceramics and enamels.
Fluorspar is a transparent halide mineral of various colours, composed of calcium fluoride (CaF2). Fluorite occurs in carbonatites and alkaline intrusive rocks, as an accessory mineral in granites and pegmatites, around fumaroles and as a cement in sandstones.

Fluorocarbons
Fluorocarbons, which are the fastest segment of the sector for demand growth, are primarily used to make refridgerants and fluoropolymers and a lesser extent, aerosols, foam products, pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, solvents and dispersants. The applications for fluorocarbons are extremely extensive. Fluorocarbons have been the subject of much environmental controversy over the past 20 years, the falling consumption of fluorspar through the 90′s till 2003 was entirely due to a ban of certain fluorocarbons; it was not until companies like Dupont created acceptable alternatives to ozone depleting and greenhouse gas emmiting fluorocarbons did demand move up again.
Fluoropolymers
Fluoropolymers are derived from Fluorocarbons, they are some of the highest value and most diversified products in the fluorspar chain. Fluoropolymers are primarily dominated PolyTetraFluoroEthylene (PTFE) products also known as "Teflon" another trademark of DuPont. the fluoropolymer market and downstream fluorochemical industry is a significant consumer of primary acidspar supply, major North American consumers consist of DuPont, Honeywell, Arkema, Solvay and Mexichem. The Global fluorochemical industry was estimated to generate 15.3 billion dollars in revenue in 2011 and expected to see an annual 5% growth through to 2018 (Transparency Market Research).