R404A calms as demand decreases

UK: Refrigerant supplier A-Gas reports that price and supply issues with R404A appear to have stabilised but R410A may face further price rises.

Writing on the company’s website, commercial director Enzo D’Alessio reports that the recent huge price hikes for high GWP refrigerants appear to have ended. The demand for virgin high GWP refrigerants is also said to have decreased, with refrigerant reclamation playing a key role in this.

“I am pleased to report that a steady stream of R404A continues to make its way back to A-Gas as installers and end-users are making the switch to lower GWP gases,” he reports, but claims the  market behaviour has changed, with users now keeping hold of recovered refrigerant that they would have otherwise returned. He warns, however: “There are strict guidelines governing this and the reclaimed gas can only be used on the same premises and only once it has gone through a basic cleaning process.”

A-Gas has invested heavily in its reclamation and recovery facilities at its facilities in Portbury. Refrigerant is reclaimed to meet the AHRI 700 standard and re-supplied to the market outside of the quota system. “This source of supply is reassuring for users who are yet to make the switch to a low GWP refrigerant,” D’Alessio added.

While there is good news for R404A, Enzo D’Alessio suggests there may be further prices rises ahead for R410A due to significant cuts in the F-gas quota. “The good news is that as far as the mildly-flammable A2L replacements like R32 are concerned, they are being seen as a viable alternative for new equipment, although use in retrofitting has been slower as A2Ls are far from being drop-ins and a different approach is needed by the contractor.”