What is causing the PTFE and Kynar extended delivery times

During the last year, the market has had more challenges than I've come across around my 3 decades experience. In the past I have seen sharp price increases, and I have seen several shortages, and delivery problems stemming from resin allocations from plastic resin vendors. This is the first instance I have seen all these issues at one time.

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

Both of these resins are in short supply. The  PTFE Sheet product PTFE (TFE) as well as PVDF  manufacturing requires a mineral called Fluorspar which is mined in Mongolia and China. The world need for this mineral has risen significantly, additionally, the supply has tightened. PTFE materials have high heat resistance, excellent chemical resistance and really low co-efficient of friction (slick) and is utilized throughout tons of applications from non-stick fry pans to ptfe tape for use at home. This mineral is the critical raw material within the manufacturing of fluoropolymers, fluorolubricants and quite a few refrigerants.This increasing amount of demand linked with shortage of raw materials has caused a dramatic price increase (almost double within the past year), shortages, and we expect both these factors to keep at it in the near future.