Ammonium bifluoride

Recent Market Intelligence Report on Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride (AHF)

I. Market Price Dynamics
1. **Quotation Range**: Recent quotations for ammonium hydrogen fluoride (AHF) exhibit moderate variation. Industrial-grade AHF is currently priced between RMB 7,000–10,000 per metric ton. Specifically: Wuhan Hengjiu Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 7,000/ton (98% purity, 25 kg/bag); Shandong Layah Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 7,300/ton (national standard grade); Shandong Hanyue Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 9,800/ton (99% purity); Guangzhou Tianyue Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 9,000/ton (national standard grade, produced in Fujian Province); and Shandong Qiangsen Chemical Co., Ltd. quotes RMB 8,000/ton (domestically produced).
2. **Price Volatility**: Compared to previous periods, AHF market prices have remained relatively stable overall, with no significant fluctuations observed. However, price discrepancies among suppliers may stem from differences in product quality, purity level, packaging specifications, and delivery location.

II. Supply-Demand Analysis
1. **Supply Side**: Major domestic AHF producers include Do-Fluoride Chemicals Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Co., Ltd., and Shandong Dongyue Group Co., Ltd., collectively accounting for a substantial share of national production capacity. Recently, the industry’s average operating rate stood at approximately 76.4%. Leading enterprises—benefiting from integrated fluorine resource utilization and clean production technologies—maintain notably higher operating rates than the industry average.
2. **Demand Side**: AHF finds extensive applications in semiconductor etching and cleaning, photovoltaic panel manufacturing, and as an additive in lithium-ion battery electrolytes. With expansion projects of downstream industry leaders—including SMIC, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., and Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL)—progressing toward commercial operation, demand for AHF is expected to further increase.

III. Industry Policies and Market Environment
1. **Policy Support**: As a critical precursor for producing lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF?), lithium fluoride (LiF), sodium fluoride (NaF), and semiconductor etchants, AHF has been included in several national and local policy documents encouraging its development. For instance, both the *Guidance Catalogue for the First Batch Application Demonstration of Key New Materials (2024 Edition)* and the *Industrial Structure Adjustment Guidance Catalogue (2024 Edition)* list AHF among encouraged new material products.
2. **Environmental Regulation**: Stricter environmental oversight and tightening allocations of fluorine resources have exerted some downward pressure on the industry’s average operating rate. Nevertheless, leading enterprises—with advanced environmental technologies and clean production processes—continue to sustain high operating rates and consistent product quality.

IV. Related Market Developments
1. **Refrigerant Market**: Refrigerant prices have recently fluctuated but trended upward overall. For example, domestic and export prices for R32 refrigerant have both risen. This may exert marginal influence on markets for refrigerant raw materials—including AHF. However, given AHF’s relatively minor usage share in refrigerant production, its pricing remains largely insulated from refrigerant market volatility.
2. **Fluorspar Market**: Fluorspar—a key raw material for AHF production—has seen recent price recovery. On the supply side, spot fluorspar availability remains tight, with several mines undergoing scheduled maintenance shutdowns, resulting in scarce circulating inventory. On the demand side, concentrated plant shutdowns at major northern hydrogen fluoride (HF) producers have significantly reduced industry-wide spot supply. Short-term market expectations indicate stable-to-firm pricing for wet fluorspar powder, which may exert modest upward pressure on AHF production costs.

V. Analysis and Forecast

A. Analysis
1. **Supply-Demand Balance**: The current AHF market exhibits broadly balanced supply and demand. Leading enterprises—leveraging technological advantages and scale economies—dominate market share. With sustained growth in downstream demand and increasingly stringent environmental regulation, industry concentration is expected to rise further.
2. **Price Trend Outlook**: AHF prices have remained relatively stable recently. Nevertheless, future price movements may occur under the combined influence of raw material costs, supply-demand dynamics, and evolving policy frameworks. Given the overall market equilibrium and strong cost-control capabilities of industry leaders, sharp price increases or declines appear unlikely.

B. Forecast
1. **Market Size Growth**: AHF market size is projected to maintain steady growth over the coming years. Rapid development of strategic emerging industries—including semiconductors, photovoltaics, and lithium-ion batteries—will continue driving robust demand for AHF as a critical raw material.
2. **Technological Upgrading and Industrial Transformation**: Strengthened environmental awareness and continuous technological advancement will steer the AHF industry toward greener, more efficient, and diversified development pathways. Enterprises are expected to intensify investment in environmental protection initiatives and technological innovation to enhance product quality and production efficiency. Concurrently, efforts to explore new application domains and expand market reach will accelerate industrial upgrading and structural transformation.