Is there a difference between fluorosilicic acid and dry fluoride product markets?
All of the liquid fluorosilicic acid used for water fluoridation is produced in North America, so shortages and disruptions of fluorosilicic acid are limited to U.S. influences. Roughly half of the dry additive sodium fluorosilicate is domestically produced in the United States by a single manufacturer and is dependent on the fluorosilicic acid market or conditions at the single location of production. The remainder is imported, principally from Asian sources, and supply is dependent on shipping and transportation factors. Most sodium fluoride is imported from Asia. Therefore, the availability of sodium fluoride is more dependent on shipping and transportation factors. If a surge in demand for dry additives occurs, several weeks may be required for logistical arrangements to increase imports and satisfy the greater demand. In spite of these constraints, historically, there are fewer reports of shortages of dry additives than of fluorosilicic acid.
