January China Anhydrous Hydrofluoric Acid Market Prices Shift Upward

February 9 news

In January, the hydrofluoric acid market in China was strongly supported by the continuous rise in upstream raw material costs, leading to a further increase in the market price. According to the analysis system, as of January 31, the benchmark price of hydrofluoric acid was 13,033.33 CNY/ton, an increase of 2.36% compared to December.

On the raw material side: The prices of fluorite and sulfuric acid have risen, putting significant cost pressure on hydrogen fluoride producers and squeezing their profit margins. The sustained high cost of raw materials provides strong support for hydrogen fluoride prices and has become the key driver behind the price increase in February. According to analysis systems, as of January 30, the benchmark price of fluorite stood at 3,412.50 CNY per ton, up 0.37% from the beginning of this month (3,400.00 CNY per ton).

On the demand side: The downstream demand landscape remains relatively stable. As the refrigerant industry—the largest downstream consumer of hydrofluoric acid—is approaching year-end, production quotas have been largely exhausted, and overall demand has not seen any explosive growth. Instead, demand continues to follow a just-in-time procurement model. Most market participants are adopting a wait-and-see approach, with lower purchasing enthusiasm. Consequently, upward pressure on market prices is weak, and in the short term, the market will mainly be characterized by the execution of contracted orders and a generally stable operation.

Market Forecast: The sustained high cost of raw materials continues to provide strong support for hydrofluoric acid prices. Downstream demand remains relatively stable, with purchases driven primarily by essential needs. We expect the market price of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride to remain stable with a slight upward trend in the coming period. Further attention should be paid to changes in market supply and demand.