What's the reason for the PTFE and PVDF extended delivery

Over the last year, the market has experienced more challenges than I've come across in my thirty years experience. In the past I have seen sharp price increases, and I have experienced several shortages, and delivery issues as a result of plastic resin allocations by resin vendors. This is actually the first instance I have seen all these issues at the same time.

PTFE Sheet (TFE) and Kynar - PVDF both are on allocation.

These two resins are in short supply. The  PTFE Sheet product PTFE (TFE) as well as PVDF  manufacturing requires a mineral called Fluorspar that's mined in Mongolia and China. The worldwide interest in this mineral has risen significantly, additionally, the supply has tightened. PTFE materials have high heat resistance, excellent chemical resistance and incredibly low co-efficient of friction (slick) and is utilised in dozens of purposes from non-stick fry cookware to ptfe tape for personal use. This specific mineral is the crucial raw material within the manufacturing of fluoropolymers, fluorolubricants and quite a few refrigerants.This surge in demand coupled with general shortage of raw materials is responsible for a dramatic price increase (almost double within the last year), shortages, and we expect both these factors to keep at it in the near future.

American Made Plastics