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%
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%
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.
Source