What caused the Teflon Products and PVDF extended delivery

In the last year, the industry has had more challenges than I have seen inside my thirty years experience. In the past I have seen sharp price increases, and I have seen several shortages, and delivery issues on account of material allocations through resin suppliers. This is definitely the very first time I have seen all these issues at the same time.

PTFE Rod (TFE) and PVDF are both on allocation.

The two of these resins are in short supply. The  PTFE Sheet product PTFE (TFE) and Kynar  manufacturing requires a mineral called Fluorspar that is mined in Mongolia and China. The worldwide need for this mineral has increased significantly, as well as the supply has tightened. PTFE materials have high heat resistance, excellent chemical resistance and very low co-efficient of friction (slippery) and is utilized throughout dozens of purposes from non-stick fry kitchenware to ptfe tape for use at home. This mineral is actually the critical raw materials inside the manufacturing of fluoropolymers, fluorolubricants and a lot of refrigerants.This increase in demand coupled with general shortage of raw materials has caused a dramatic price increase (almost double within the last year), shortages, and we expect these two factors to continue in the near future.

HDPE cutting board