Report Offers Insights on Manufacturing, Distribution
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) has released its 2026 “State of the Channel Report,” which provides insights into the forces shaping wholesale HVACR distribution and manufacturing.
Now in its sixth edition, the report delivers a concise but comprehensive view of market performance, competitive shifts, and demand trends, a HARDI press release said. The information is based on HARDI’s proprietary data, industry surveys, and expert analysis.
“This report continues to evolve alongside the channel,” said Tim Fisher, HARDI’s research director. “Each year, we refine our analysis to focus on the intelligence that matters most to decision-makers. Our goal is to equip distributors and suppliers with practical insights they can apply across sales, marketing, finance, and product strategy.”
According to the press release, the 2026 edition provides:
• Updated projections for contractor business purchase activity and the macroeconomic factors driving HVACR demand. Highlights include residential unitary sales trends, by region, and a detailed update on the data center market.
• An assessment of the competitive dynamics at play among competing retail and distribution channels, and of the threat these competing channels pose to traditional wholesale distribution businesses.
• Insights into the needs and preferences of contractor businesses, as well as emerging market opportunities for wholesale distributors.
• Updates on the most pertinent government actions and their implications for the channel.
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• Summaries of the responses to both of HARDI’s key annual survey initiatives, the results of which are woven throughout the report.
For HARDI members, the report serves as a strategic tool to align teams around customer-driven insights, while also offering outlooks — down to the regional level — of sales expectations for the year, the press release said. HARDI encourages member companies to share the report across sales, marketing, finance, and product development teams to inform decision-making and long-term planning.
The latest “State of the Channel Report” is available to HARDI member companies at exclusive member pricing and is also available for purchase by non-members. The report can serve as a resource for private equity firms and investors evaluating HVACR distribution and manufacturing opportunities, for research and advisory firms conducting market analysis or benchmarking, and for planners, consultants, and suppliers seeking credible data to inform forecasting, due diligence, and channel strategy.
For more information or to purchase the 2026 “State of the Channel Report,” visit www.hardinet.org.
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