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2017 ends with 60% price rise

UK: The European air conditioning and refrigeration industry faces record price rises of up to 60% on high GWP refrigerants R404A and R507A in December.

Even the lower GWP R404A alternatives R448A and R449A face price increases of up to 20% from next month.

Contractors and end users also face price hikes of up to 30% on the air conditioning refrigerant R410A, along with the high GWP R22 service blends like R422D, R438A and R422A.

The latest increases bring down the curtain on a year that has seen unprecedented refrigerant price rises as a result of the European F-gas phase down. But, with European HFC supplies now facing a 37% cut in 2018, finding a supplier for some of the high GWP refrigerants might prove to be more of a problem than the price.

In Germany, three of the leading air conditioning and refrigeration associations have appealed to their government over refrigerant shortages and in Italy the industry has called on its competition authority to investigate what they have described as “unjustified” and “disproportionate” price increases.

Related stories:

Germany reacts to refrigerant shortages – 21 November 2017
GERMANY: Leading German air conditioning and refrigeration associations are demanding meetings with the government over refrigerant shortages. Read more…

Refrigerant price increases “unjustified” – 4 October 2017
ITALY: Two of Italy’s leading associations have called on the Italian competition authority to investigate what they describe as “unjustified” and “disproportionate” increases in refrigerant prices. Read more…

RSL to end sales of R404A – 27 September 2017
IRELAND: Leading Irish refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler RSL is to end sales of high GWP refrigerants R404A and R507. Read more…

R404A units still sell despite warnings – 2 July 2017
UK: As the UK’s leading refrigeration wholesalers announce another round of HFC price increases, a major supplier implores the industry to stop using R404A in new equipment. Read more…

Price of R404A to double next month – 17 June 2017
EUROPE: Chemours is to double the price of high GWP refrigerants R404A and R507 from next month as the European F-gas phase-down really begins to bite. Read more…

Retailers heading for refrigerant “shock” – 15 June 2017
UK: Green group EIA has added its voice to warnings that some retailers are heading for a major financial shock when drastic cuts in supplies of HFC refrigerants kick in. Read more…

R404A will be scarce and more expensive – 4 April 2017
UK: Refrigerant suppliers insist that they are not “crying wolf” with dire warnings about the future availability of high GWP refrigerants like R404A. Read more…

Honeywell to stop sales of R404A – 10 April 2017
EUROPE: Honeywell says it intends to stop selling the high GWP refrigerants R404A and R507 in Europe from next year. Read more…

Switch now to low GWP refrigerants – 19 December 2016
NETHERLANDS: Despite figures that suggest Europe is within the F-gas phase down limits, concerns remain that industry is failing to switch fast enough to low GWP refrigerants. Read more…

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