Associazione Tecnici del Freddo (Italy) is an official partner of Öko-Recherche and the European Commission for the continuous monitoring of HFC prices and their availability within the EU.
In Q4/2024, 61 companies from 10 EU Member States – primarily from Germany, Poland, France, and Spain – participated in the survey. Respondents represented all levels of the supply chain, including three gas producers, 18 distributors, 28 OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), 12 service sector companies, and one company involved in fire protection. The survey collected purchase and/or sales prices of HFCs and low-GWP alternatives, expressed in absolute terms (€/kg) or as a price index (with 2014 as the base year). Companies reported prices only for the refrigerants relevant to their business activities.
This study was conducted by independent consultants Öko-Recherche and CiTEPA, in collaboration with PROZON and CONAIF, in light of the HFC quota system introduced by Regulation (EU) 2024/573.
Key Findings
Compared to Q4/2023, significant price increases were recorded for high-GWP gases and blends:
- R134a: +21%
- R404A: +18% (at distributor and service company levels)
- R410A: +17%
Since 2014, R134a prices have risen by a factor of 3.0 for end-users and up to 9.6 for distributors. For R410A, the increase ranges from 3.0 to 10.7 times. By comparison, global producer prices have increased by a factor of 1.8 for R134a (Q4/2024 data) and 1.5 for R410A (Q3/2024 data).
For low-GWP alternatives, price changes across the supply chain (excluding end-user prices) compared to Q3/2024 were as follows:
- R452A: +7%
- R448A: +3%
- R449A: +3%
- R744: -2%
- R32: -3%
- R290: -3%
In Q4/2024, the purchase price of recycled R404A was 97% of the price of virgin R404A. Compared to Q3/2024, the price of recycled R404A decreased by 8% for distributors and 7% for service companies.
The price of quota authorizations ranged between €13 and €20 per ton of CO₂ equivalent, with an average selling price of €15.9/t CO₂-e, representing a 5% decrease from Q3/2024. Over a longer period, compared to Q4/2022, quota prices have increased by a factor of 1.1.
Overall, the EU refrigerant market appears stable for most companies. However, in Q4/2024, one French company reported the unavailability of R448A.
