High GWP refrigerants show upward price trend
The high GWP refrigerants R134a, R404A, and R410A have experienced considerable increases in Europe over the last 12 months, according to the latest report by Öko-Recherche.
The report, covering the first three months of this year, shows average prices throughout the supply chain for R134a, R404A, and R410A increasing by 24%, 17%, and 15%, respectively, when compared with price levels reported in Q1/2021.
Compared to 2014, prices of R134a are 2x to 5x higher, R404A 2x to 8x higher and R410A prices between 1x to 5x higher depending on the supply chain level.
On the distributor level, lower GWP blend alternatives also increased with R448A, R452A and R449A up by 13%, 5%, and 4%, respectively.
However, prices of alternatives are mostly stable with HFO-1234yf prices continuing a downward trend.
Limited regional availability was indicated by a few companies for R1234yf and R1234ze. For R1233zd and R515B, availability still appears to be constrained as a result of temporary shutdown of US production plants in Q3 and Q4/2021.
Besides the stricter phase-down, there are reported bottlenecks in worldwide transport capacity and delivery delays, significant freight, and transport problems due to labour shortages and lockdowns of Chinese harbours, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Ningbo-Zhoushan. This has created a significant slowdown of cargo movement and cost increases, with the entire supply chain affected, the report says.