Refrigerants Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Refrigerants Market is projected to expand from USD 6.51 Billion in 2025 to USD 8.63 Billion by 2031, achieving a CAGR of 4.81%. Refrigerants, defined as chemical compounds that undergo phase transitions between liquid and gas to transfer thermal energy, are essential for air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat pump systems. The market is primarily propelled by the escalating demand for cooling solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial landscapes, a trend driven by rapid urbanization and rising ambient temperatures. Furthermore, growth is underpinned by the critical need for efficient cold chain logistics to guarantee food security and pharmaceutical safety. As reported by the Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association (JRAIA), total global demand for air conditioners was estimated at 131.63 million units in 2024, highlighting the substantial volume of equipment requiring refrigerant supply.

Despite this strong demand, the market encounters a major obstacle regarding the complicated shift toward low-global warming potential alternatives required by international environmental agreements. The phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons poses a significant challenge, compelling the industry to balance regulatory compliance with the increased costs, flammability risks, and technical retrofitting needs associated with next-generation eco-friendly substitutes. This regulatory burden forces manufacturers to dedicate heavy investment to research and development, potentially squeezing profit margins and decelerating the adoption of compliant technologies in price-sensitive developing regions.

Market Drivers

The escalating demand for air conditioning and HVAC infrastructure acts as a primary catalyst for market growth, particularly as urbanization and rising global temperatures necessitate reliable climate control. This driver significantly boosts refrigerant consumption as manufacturers accelerate the production of residential and commercial cooling units to meet essential infrastructure needs. As new installations increase to address thermal stress, both the initial charging and subsequent servicing of these systems generate a continuous revenue stream for producers. Data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute in March 2025 indicates that combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in the United States rose by 11.8% in 2024 compared to the prior year, emphasizing the robust equipment installation rates that directly correlate with higher chemical volume requirements.

Concurrently, the rapid development of cold chain infrastructure for food and pharmaceuticals is driving the market forward, ensuring the integrity of perishable goods across intricate global supply networks. This sector depends heavily on advanced refrigerants to maintain precise temperature controls in storage and transport logistics, thereby minimizing spoilage and extending shelf life. According to the Global Cold Chain Alliance in April 2025, the temperature-controlled capacity managed by its global members increased by over 10% to reach 231 million cubic meters relative to 2024 figures. This expansion highlights the growing reliance on cooling technologies, a trend confirmed by supplier performance; for instance, Facilities Dive reported in October 2025 that Honeywell’s Solstice Advanced Materials division achieved $3.8 billion in net sales for 2024, largely driven by the adoption of next-generation refrigerants in these critical applications.

Market Challenges

The intricate transition to low-global warming potential (GWP) alternatives, mandated by international environmental accords, serves as a primary constraint on the Global Refrigerants Market. This regulatory shift forces manufacturers to divert substantial capital toward the research and development of compliant substitutes rather than capacity expansion. The high costs associated with technical retrofitting and managing the flammability risks of next-generation refrigerants inflate final product prices, creating barriers in price-sensitive sectors. Furthermore, uncertainty regarding the availability and performance of these new chemical compounds induces hesitation among end-users, thereby delaying the replacement of legacy systems.

This disruption is visibly contracting demand within key application segments, which directly reduces the volume of refrigerant required for new installations. According to the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), heat pump sales across 13 major European countries declined by 23% in 2024, dropping to approximately 2 million units from 2.6 million the previous year. Such a significant downturn in equipment deployment limits the primary market for refrigerant charging, consequently stifling the industry's overall revenue potential and growth trajectory.

Market Trends

The retail sector is aggressively pivoting toward natural refrigerants, specifically carbon dioxide (R-744), to mitigate regulatory risks associated with the phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons. This transition signifies a strategic alignment with long-term sustainability, as transcritical CO2 systems offer immunity to future environmental bans and superior thermodynamic efficiency. Consequently, retailers are accelerating the retrofit of existing cold storage infrastructure to accommodate these high-pressure natural solutions, effectively displacing legacy synthetic blends. As noted by the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) in March 2025, roughly 30% of food retail outlets in Europe - totaling around 90,700 locations - have adopted transcritical CO2 systems, signaling a definitive departure from chemical coolants.

Simultaneously, the market is shifting toward circular economy practices as the production of virgin hydrofluorocarbons is capped by international quotas. To bridge the gap between restricted supply and the maintenance demand of the installed base, the industry is industrializing the recovery and purification of used gases. This valorization turns reclaimed refrigerant into a vital commodity, reducing reliance on diminishing virgin stocks. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in September 2025, the total volume of hydrofluorocarbons reclaimed in the United States rose by approximately 30% in 2024 compared to the previous year, highlighting the rapid transition to regenerated material sources.

Key Players Profiled in the Refrigerants Market

• Daikin Industries, Ltd.
• Asahi Glass Corporation
• The Chemours Company
• Sinochem Group Co Ltd.
• Honeywell International Inc.
• Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited
• Airgas Refrigerants Inc.
• Linde PLC
• Mexichem America Inc.
• SRF Limited

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Refrigerants Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Refrigerants Market, by Type:

• CFCs
• HCFCs
• HFCs
• Inorganic Refrigerants
• Others

Refrigerants Market, by Application:

• Air Conditioners
• Refrigerators
• Electronics Devices
• Chillers
• Others

Refrigerants Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Refrigerants Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.