Analysis of the Development Status and Future Market Trends of Lithium Fluoride Industry

Lithium fluoride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula LiF, belonging to alkali metal halide. At room temperature, lithium fluoride usually exists in the form of white crystals or powder, which is slightly soluble in water, but soluble in nitric acid and sulfuric acid, insoluble in hydrochloric acid at room temperature, and can form LiF acid salt with hydrofluoric acid. It has excellent physical and chemical properties, and is widely used in various fields, such as analytical crystals, desiccants and fluxes in wavelength analysis X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, as well as enamel industry, optical glass manufacturing and electrolytic aluminum industry. 

1) Lithium fluoride industry chain

The upstream of the lithium fluoride industrial chain mainly involves the exploitation and processing of lithium fluoride resources, including the exploitation of lithium ore, the production of lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide, the preparation of hydrogen fluoride and other fluorine resources. The quality and supply stability of these raw materials have great influence on the production of lithium fluoride.

The middle stage is the production and processing of lithium fluoride, and the upstream raw materials are transformed into lithium fluoride products through specific chemical reactions and technological processes. At this stage, advanced technology and equipment support are needed to ensure the quality and performance of the product.

The downstream is the application field of lithium fluoride, which mainly including lithium batteries, the electronics industry, optical glass manufacturing and electrolytic aluminum industry. Lithium fluoride plays an important role in these fields, such as being an important raw material for lithium battery electrolytes and used to prepare analytical crystals for wavelength analysis X-ray fluorescence spectrometers. 

2) Analysis of the development status and future market trends of lithium fluoride industry

As an important intermediate of lithium hexafluorophosphate, the main raw material of electrolytes, lithium fluoride accounts for more than 70% of the consumption structure in the preparation of electrolyte. With the continuous expansion of the new energy vehicle market and the progress of lithium battery technology, the demand for lithium hexafluorophosphate is increasing, which in turn drives the market demand for lithium fluoride. With the continuous expansion of the new energy vehicle market and the progress of lithium battery technology, the demand for lithium fluoride is increasing. Statistics released by the Lithium Industry Branch of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association show that in 2022, the output of lithium carbonate in China increased significantly, reaching 395000 tons, up 32.5% over the previous year. At the same time, the output of lithium hydroxide also showed strong growth momentum, with an output of 246000 tons, up 29.5% year-on-year. The abundant supply of this raw material has created extremely favorable conditions for the vigorous development of battery-grade lithium fluoride industry in China.

At present, the global lithium fluoride market has formed a more intense competition pattern. In China market, the production capacity of lithium fluoride is mainly concentrated in the central region, which has a great relationship with the distribution of factories and production capacity of lithium battery materials. In recent years, with the shortage of lithium resources and the continuous growth of demand, the price of lithium carbonate fluctuated greatly, which further affected the production cost and market price of lithium fluoride. In addition, the lithium fluoride supply chain is also affected by factors such as the import volume of lithium concentrate and the import and export volume of lithium carbonate.