Fluorspar market in Spain

Earlier Report Observations

The Spanish fluorspar market experienced a period of strong expansion from 2018 to 2022, with domestic consumption volume rising from 39.9 thousand tons to 207.8 thousand tons. This growth was primarily driven by a substantial increase in domestic production, which reached 203.8 thousand tons by 2022, alongside a notable shift in trade flows that retained more material within the country.

Domestic production was supported by the ongoing activity of state-owned entities such as MINERSA GROUP, which continued fluorspar extraction at its mines in Asturias, including the Villabona operation, throughout this period.

The market environment evolved with the entry into force of EU Regulation 2024/573 in March 2024, which imposed new quantitative limits on hydrofluorocarbons and stricter labeling rules for fluorinated gases. This regulatory change, affecting a key downstream sector, coincided with broader industry trends of growing demand for fluorochemicals in refrigerants, aluminum, and steel production.

Production fluorspar in Spain

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Spain ranked sixth globally in fluorspar production.

Top producers of fluorspar, 2017-2020

World map of production of fluorspar, 2017-2020

Fluorspar production in Spain grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 186.0 thousand tonnes, up 28.1% from 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, production surged by 662.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 96.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Spain in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports fluorspar from Spain

Exports in kind, t

The market displayed volatility during the observed period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2018, with a 4.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Spain exported 20 012 tonnes of fluorspar, a modest increase of 3.7% from the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 90 517 tonnes, while the minimum was in 2019 at 19 295 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, falling by 78.7%, and the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 271.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Spain in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the top destinations for Spain's fluorspar exports in volume were Turkey (23.0% of exports), Germany (21.1%), and Italy (12.5%), which together accounted for 56.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Spain in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Export values hit their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2018, with an 8.8-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Spain's fluorspar exports amounted to 3 650 thousand US dollars, marking a moderate reduction of 6.5% year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 32 154 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, dropping by 87.9%, while the largest increase was in 2018, rising by 774.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Spain in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (26.5% of exports in value terms), Norway (14.4%), and Italy (14.1%) were the principal buyers of fluorspar from Spain, jointly accounting for 55.0% of total exports in value terms.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Spain in value, 2017-2020

Imports fluorspar to Spain

Imports in kind, t

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Import volumes peaked in 2018 and fell to their lowest point in 2020, with a 2.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Spain's fluorspar import volume reached 7 950 tonnes, showing a steep decline of 59.5% versus the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 22 564 tonnes. The largest increase occurred in 2018, rising by 85.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Spain in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa (30.4% of imports in volume), the Netherlands (28.0%), and Mexico (19.0%) led the structure of fluorspar imports to Spain, together representing 77.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Spain in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Import values reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2019, with a 2.6-fold gap between these years. Spain imported approximately 2 747 thousand US dollars of fluorspar in 2020, amounting to a decrease of 60.9% from a year earlier. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 7 020 thousand US dollars. The largest increase occurred in 2018, rising by 100.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Spain in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, South Africa (35.2% of imports in value terms), the Netherlands (27.3%), and Mexico (14.1%) together accounted for 76.6% of total imports in value terms, serving as the main sources for fluorspar to Spain.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Spain in value, 2017-2020