← External Forces: Trade, Geopolitics & Market Access (all topics)
Fluorspar dependence
What it is
Fluorspar, or calcium fluoride, is the only commercial source of fluorine and India has negligible economic reserves. Supply is concentrated in China, Mexico, South Africa and Mongolia
It is classified as a critical mineral in several jurisdictions including India
Impact on industries
- Complete import dependence on a concentrated supplier base, with China dominant - the same structural vulnerability as rare earths and graphite
- Price and availability move on export policy in supplier countries rather than on Indian demand, and cannot be hedged
- Critical mineral status brings policy attention, exploration incentives and reduced royalties under the national mission
- Recovery of fluorine from phosphogypsum and spent acid is being explored, but neither is at commercial scale