Published · ANFA Chemical technical team
This is the first post in our monthly industry news commentary. We read the Chinese, Japanese and European fluorochemical news so you don't have to, then explain what it means for anyone buying hydrofluoric acid, ammonium bifluoride, fluosilicic acid or fluoroboric acid. Every figure below links to its source.
1. China fluorspar: drifting lower, but not collapsing
Chinese fluorspar eased through October. SunSirs/100ppi put the domestic average at RMB 3,668.75/t on 23 October, down 0.34% on the week and only 0.51% higher year on year (100ppi, 23 Oct; SunSirs, 19 Oct). Delivered 97% wet powder was quoted at RMB 3,300–3,750/t depending on region (ChemPriceHub, 16 Oct).
The reasons are supply-side: southern mines in Jiangxi, Fujian and Zhejiang are restarting under tighter safety and environmental inspections, and Mongolian imports rose 20.44% year on year in January–August, typically RMB 300–500/t below domestic material (SunSirs). The refrigerant peak season is also over.
What it means: raw-material cost pressure on fluoride producers is not rising. Don't expect fluorspar to be the reason for a big price jump this quarter.
2. Anhydrous HF: firm contract prices despite oversupply
Refrigerant-grade AHF contracts were referenced at RMB 14,500–14,800/t delivered in late October, and Longzhong reported the tender pricing centre moving up RMB 400–600/t on cost support and tight local supply (Mysteel/Oilchem, 27 Oct). SunSirs' AHF benchmark held at RMB 16,400/t through 22 October (SunSirs, 23 Oct).
Behind the stable headline, the industry runs at over 70% utilisation with oversupply overall, while several plants are down or selling mainly to themselves (Xiwuqi Jintian under maintenance, Henan Huanghe suspended), which tightens the spot market in some regions, especially Jiangxi and Fujian. Demand is weak: major R32 producers run at around 40%, and demand from LiPF6 and electronic-grade HF is limited (SunSirs).
What it means: HF-based products such as aqueous hydrofluoric acid, ABF and HBF4 are more likely to see small regional swings than a trend. Sulfuric acid, the other main cost input, is worth watching. For importers, now is a good time to lock in specs, packaging and documents, so you're not negotiating from scratch if a plant outage tightens supply.
3. Fluosilicic acid and ABF: steady
Chinese 35–40% fluosilicic acid was quoted ex-works at RMB 950–1,300/t in early October, with 15–18% fertilizer-plant acid in Yunnan/Guizhou at RMB 500–600/t (Fuwu Zaixian, 9 Oct). Ammonium bifluoride trader quotes, such as 97% material at RMB 8,000/t in Guangzhou, didn't move between 17 and 28 October (100ppi). For ocean buyers, freight, packaging and concentration usually affect landed cost more than these domestic moves.
4. Japan: high-purity HF still relies on Chinese AHF
A company profile published this month notes that Stella Chemifa, a leading Japanese maker of ultra-high-purity HF for semiconductor etching and cleaning, sources its anhydrous HF mainly from China, and that semiconductors make up 60.3% of its net sales (SemiMap, Oct 2026). So Chinese AHF conditions reach all the way to wafer fabs, and electronics buyers should track the same indicators as industrial users.
5. Europe: PFAS rules tighten, and fluorspar is a critical raw material
On 10 October 2026, the EU REACH restriction on PFHxA started applying to consumer clothing, footwear and related articles, with wider textile coverage from October 2027 (Beveridge & Diamond). PFHxA limits also now apply to food-contact paper, consumer mixtures and cosmetics. Labelling under the firefighting-foam PFAS restriction applies from 23 October 2026 (Fieldfisher). ECHA's final opinion on the broad "universal" PFAS restriction is expected by December, ahead of a Commission proposal expected in early 2027 (France 24).
The EU-funded TriFluorium project is also researching how to turn fluoropolymer and PFAS waste back into fluorspar, noting that fluorspar is an EU critical raw material recycled at only about 1% (EU Chemicals Platform, 14 Oct).
What it means: these rules target organic PFAS in finished products, not inorganic fluorides like HF, ABF or fluosilicic acid. But EU customers are asking more supply-chain questions. Expect more requests for SDS, composition statements and REACH status. ANFA's ammonium bifluoride is EU REACH registered, and we provide SDS, TDS and COA once an inquiry is confirmed.
Our buyer checklist for the next 8 weeks
- Fix grade, concentration and packaging (drum, IBC or ISO tank) before year-end, while the market is calm.
- Ask suppliers how much of their AHF or fluorspar they make themselves, since localized shutdowns drive spot moves.
- For EU-bound goods, prepare composition and regulatory documents early.
- For HF, confirm import licences, end-user declarations and UN 1790 shipping arrangements in advance. See our guide How to Safely Ship & Handle Hydrofluoric Acid (UN1790).
Planning Q4 and Q1 orders?
ANFA Chemical (安发化工（杭州）有限公司) manufactures inorganic fluorides in Hangzhou and exports dual-use controlled items under export licences; an end-user declaration may be requested. Send us the product, grade, volume, packaging and destination port and we will quote against current conditions: [email protected], WhatsApp +61 493 468 903, or our contact page.
Commentary by the ANFA team based on the public sources linked above; prices quoted are Chinese domestic reference prices reported by those sources, not ANFA offers.