MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - According to the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), residential air conditioning shipments showed the largest gain during the fourth quarter of 2007, increasing by 29 percent. Ductless mini split shipments showed the second largest gain with a 25 percent increase, followed by unit heater shipments with a 9 percent increase, and commercial air conditioning shipments with a 8 percent increase over fourth quarter 2006.

Other sectors showed decreases, including chiller bookings by 9 percent and residential furnace shipments by 4 percent.

Key figures and trends include:

• Commercial air conditioning shipments increased by 8 percent, from 12,159 in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 13,183 in the fourth quarter of 2007. Year-to-date shipments decreased by less than 1 percent, from 45,499 for the fourth quarter 2006 to 45,458 for the fourth quarter 2007.

• Residential air conditioning shipments increased 29 percent from 17,342 in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 22,298 in the fourth quarter of 2007. Year-to-date shipments decreased by 9 percent, from 250,255 for the fourth quarter 2006 to 227,349 for the fourth quarter 2007.

• Residential furnace shipments decreased 4 percent from 105,566 in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 101,293 in the fourth quarter of 2007. Year-to-date shipments decreased by 1 percent, from 323,214 for the fourth quarter 2006 to 318,964 for the fourth quarter 2007.

• Unit heater shipments increased 9 percent from 17,774 in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 19,432 in the fourth quarter of 2007. Year-to-date shipments decreased by 2 percent, from 46,334 for the fourth quarter 2006 to 47,151 for the fourth quarter 2007.

• Ductless split system shipments increased by 25 percent from 2,168 in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 2,711 in the fourth quarter of 2007. Year-to-date shipments decreased by 8 percent, from 48,417 for the fourth quarter 2006 to 44,545 for the fourth quarter 2007.

• Chiller bookings decreased 9 percent from 222 in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 202 in the fourth quarter of 2007. Year-to-date shipments decreased by 9 percent, from 833 for the fourth quarter 2006 to 788 for the fourth quarter 2007.

Publication date: 02/11/2008