The mandated industry cutbacks in R-22 production, as regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its Oct. 17, 2014, Adjustment of Allowances, resulted in a 57 percent cutback in 2015 production of the hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), as compared to 2014, with subsequent reductions through 2019, which is the last year production will be allowed in the U.S. The effect of such a significant cutback in 2015 remains to be seen, but it will play out over the next several months.
There are a number of unknowns headed into the summer of 2015, not the least of which is how much R-22 is out there and how much demand will be created by this summer’s weather. Demand for R-22 in the first quarter has been steady and is following a fairly typical pattern as peak cooling season arrives, said Kenneth Gaglione, director, product marketing, aftermarket refrigerants, Honeywell Intl. Inc., adding the weather will play a critical role in estimating future R-22 demand.