“This year's report marks the fifth edition produced by our team, and the depth of our coverage has expanded significantly since our first release in 2021,” said Tim Fisher, HARDI’s market intelligence director. “Unlike previous versions, this edition includes regional-level market summaries and outlooks, making it an even more valuable resource for our distributor members. In addition to the core surveys and analysis that we included in every report, this year’s version provides a detailed HFC supply outlook and a comprehensive assessment of the key threats facing wholesale distribution — along with insights on where businesses should prioritize their investments. Our goal is to equip distributors with the intelligence they need to navigate a rapidly evolving market with confidence."

To help HVACR professionals stay ahead of industry shifts, the press release said, the 2025 edition provides forward-looking insights into key market trends, including:

• Residential and nonresidential market outlooks: Projections of contractor business purchase totals for 2025, and analysis of the various macroeconomic trends that will drive demand for HVAC, refrigeration, and water-heating.

• Regional market performance: Market-by-market analysis of product demand trends and 2025 expectations.

• Distribution’s competitive landscape: Details on notable shifts in contractor business purchase patterns, and emerging competitive threats posed to independent distributors by competing product channels.

• HFC phasedown developments: The latest on technology transition rules and the outlook for HFC availability.

Beyond market trends, the report delivers benchmarks that provide HVACR distributors and manufacturers with a picture of competitive performance, industry positioning, and customer sentiment, the press release said. Those include:

• U.S. addressable market channel share: Insights into distributor market positioning and competitive shifts.

• Wholesale channel performance: A data-driven evaluation of distributor sales trends.

• Residential HVAC and water-heating performance: Factors influencing residential demand and product mix.

• Nonresidential HVAC, refrigeration, and water-heating performance: Performance insights across key nonresidential market segments.

• North American market performance: Updates on HVACR market performance in Canada and Mexico.

• Voice of the Supplier Survey results: Direct feedback from manufacturers on distributor relationships and 2025 market expectations.

• Voice of the Contractor Survey results: Perspectives from residential and commercial HVAC contractors on market challenges and opportunities.

The State of the Channel Report is available to HARDI member companies at exclusive pricing. The report is also available to non-members at standard pricing. For more information, visit www.hardinet.org.