The fluorspar market has had a busy start to the year. Indeed, several significant supply developments that emerged during the first few months of 2010 will have repercussions for the market throughout the rest of the year.
North America
Sure to have an impact is the sale of UK fluorochemicals producer Ineos Group to Mexico’s Mexichem Fluor SA de CV the world’s largest fluorspar miner which is the relatively young union between hydrofluoric acid (HF) producer Quimica Fluor and the Las Cuevas fluorspar miner, Mexichem Fluor.
At the time of press, the sale (worth $350m.) is expected to be completed at the end of March 2010 following regulatory filings and approvals. It will give Mexichem control over all of Ineos Fluor’s operations in North America, Europe and Asia which, after the transaction, will have an estimated annual sales revenue of $500m. Mexichem operates a...