What caused the Teflon Products and Kynar- PVDF extended delivery times

Over the last year, the market has experienced more difficulties than I've come across in my 3 decades experience. In the past I have seen sharp price increases, and I have experienced several shortages, and delivery issues because of plastic resin allocations through resin vendors. This is the very first instance I have seen all these issues at the same time.

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

Both of these resins are in short supply. The  PTFE Sheeting product PTFE (TFE) as well as Kynar  manufacturing requires a mineral called Fluorspar that is mined in Mongolia and China. The worldwide requirement for this mineral has risen significantly, as well as supply has tightened. PTFE materials have high heat resistance, excellent chemical resistance and incredibly low co-efficient of friction (slick) and is utilized throughout dozens of applications from non-stick fry griddles to ptfe tape for use at home. This mineral is the essential raw material inside the production of fluoropolymers, fluorolubricants and several refrigerants.This increase in demand mixed with general shortage of raw materials has caused a dramatic price increase (almost double over the last year), shortages, and we expect these two factors to continue in the near future.

HDPE cutting board