1. Strategic Value of Fluorite Resources Becomes Prominent
As a non-renewable scarce resource upstream in the fluorochemical industry chain, the strategic importance of fluorite is increasingly significant. Although China's fluorite reserves rank second globally, excessive mining in the early stages has led to a gradual loss of resource advantage.
The supply-demand balance for fluorite has shifted from oversupply to a self-sufficiency rate of less than 90% compared to peak times, with import demand continuously growing. Against the backdrop of sustained high demand for new energy materials, the scarcity of fluorite will further intensify.
Leading fluorochemical enterprises with fluorite resources and full industrial chain layouts will gain greater development space in this round of industrial opportunities.
2. Explosive Growth in Demand for New Energy Materials
PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) and lithium hexafluorophosphate, as core materials for lithium batteries, are experiencing rapid demand growth. PVDF is used in lithium battery cathode materials and binders, while lithium hexafluorophosphate is a key material for electrolytes.
According to industry forecasts, by 2025, China's demand for PVDF and lithium hexafluorophosphate will reach 124,700 tons and 102,200 tons, respectively. By then, the demand for fluorite from these two products will reach 530,000 tons, accounting for 12.33% of China's fluorite production in 2020.
Between 2021 and 2025, the compound annual growth rate of the new energy fluoromaterial market is expected to reach 28%, becoming an important engine for the growth of the fluorochemical industry.
3. Solid-State Batteries Open Up New Frontiers
Solid-state batteries, as the next generation of battery technology, are bringing entirely new development space for fluorochemical enterprises. Zhou Yang, head of research and development at Do-Fluoride New Energy Materials, stated that the core goal of the company's solid-state battery research is to develop intrinsically safe cells.
In terms of technological innovation, Professor Zhang Qiang's team at Tsinghua University recently developed a new fluorine-containing polyether electrolyte. The 8.96Ah polymer pouch full cell built based on this electrolyte achieved an energy density of 604Wh/kg and successfully passed nail penetration and 120-degree Celsius hot box safety tests.
Companies like Do-Fluoride are accelerating their layout in the solid-state battery track, developing new fluorine-containing polymer electrolytes and have obtained multiple technology patents.
4. Process Innovation Enhances Core Competitiveness
In terms of technological innovation, fluorochemical companies continuously improve product competitiveness through process optimization. Taking lithium hexafluorophosphate as an example, the traditional hydrogen fluoride solvent method has high energy consumption and significant exhaust emissions.
Songyan New Energy Materials Company improved the process, increasing the purity of lithium hexafluorophosphate crystals to 99.999% while reducing energy consumption by approximately 32%. The company also innovatively developed waste acid regeneration technology, converting waste acid from production into fluoride raw materials, increasing resource utilization by 60%.
The annual 1,500-ton high-end fluorine-containing polymer project under construction by Fujian Keron plans to achieve full industrial chain localization from tetrafluoroethylene monomer to perfluorosulfonic acid resin. Upon completion, it will become the world's largest perfluorosulfonic acid resin production base.
5. Fluorochemical Industry Ushers in "Super Boom" Development Cycle
Overall, the fluorochemical industry is welcoming a new round of "super boom" cycle. On one hand, third-generation refrigerants are expected to reach new prosperity peaks in the future under favorable conditions such as export growth and stable domestic demand.
On the other hand, new energy materials are expected to maintain high demand growth for the next 5-10 years. Transmission to the upstream industry chain will cause significant changes in the application structure of fluorite and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride.
Do-Fluoride has formulated clear plans for the industrialization of solid-state batteries: by 2027, the ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes will break through 1mS/cm, battery energy density will increase to 400Wh/kg, cycle life will exceed 1,000 cycles, ultimately achieving the mass production goal of high-safety, high-specific-energy solid-state batteries.