Chinese refrigerant prices on the rise

CHINA: Reports from China reveal a surge in August in the price of commonly used refrigerants such as R134a, R125, and R410A.

The price of R125, in particular, a major component of R410A, hit a record high at the end of August, following an increase of 48% in just a week. This latest rise represented an increase of 70.2% from the beginning of August, and a year-on-year increase of 175%.

A rise in the price of the raw materials are blamed, in particular the price of perchloroethylene, a chemicial critical in the production of both R134a and R125, amongst others. The price of this key raw material is reported to have risen over 100% in August to 15,000/ton (,325). This represents an increase of 85% from the beginning of the year, and an increase of over 250% on the same period last year.

The prices of hydrogen fluoride, another key HFC raw material, and trichloroethylene have also seen rises.