Secondary Refrigerants - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The secondary refrigerants market size was valued at USD 674.56 million in 2025 and is estimated to grow from USD 718.61 million in 2026 to reach USD 985.94 million by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.53% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is segmented by Product Type (Glycols, Salt Brines, Carbon Dioxide, and Other Product Types), Application (Heat Pumps, Commercial Refrigeration, Industrial Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Other Applications), and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Secondary Refrigerants Market Trends and Insights

Regulatory Phase-down of High-GWP Primary Refrigerants

The phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons is changing equipment decisions in the secondary refrigerants market. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act program reduced U.S. hydrofluorocarbon production and consumption allowances to 60% of historical baselines for 2024 through 2028. The program requires new residential split-system air-conditioning and heat-pump installations from January 1, 2026, to use refrigerants with a global warming potential below 700. In Europe, servicing air-conditioning and heat-pump equipment with fluorinated gases having a global warming potential of 2,500 or more has been prohibited since January 1, 2026. Indirect designs reduce the quantity of primary refrigerant used in occupied and food-contact areas. Glycol and brine loops can therefore help operators manage future compliance needs while maintaining serviceability.

Heat-pump and District-energy Deployment

Heat-pump deployment is increasing the use of circulating fluids in the secondary refrigerants market. The European Heat Pump Association reported sales of 2.9 million heat pumps across 21 European countries in 2025, a 13% increase from 2024. Germany recorded 50% sales growth in 2025, and heat pumps accounted for half of heating equipment sold in the country. European sales rose a further 17% in the first quarter of 2026. Large heat pumps in district heating networks need fluid circulation across extended piping runs. Germany had nearly 900 megawatts of district-heating heat-pump capacity under construction or planning in 2026. Those installations also require fluid monitoring, inhibitor replenishment, and replacement services over their operating life.

Higher Upfront Cost of Pumps, Heat Exchangers, and Secondary Piping

Indirect refrigeration systems require circulation pumps, plate heat exchangers, and secondary piping. These additions can raise capital expenditure by 20% to 35%, depending on facility size and design complexity. Cost sensitivity is especially important for mid-scale cold-storage operators in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Many cold-storage projects use target payback periods of 4 to 7 years. The added cost of a secondary loop can extend payback toward the outer end of that range. Modular skid designs and improvements in plate heat-exchanger fabrication can narrow the gap over time. Markets without policy incentives, however, may continue to see slower adoption of indirect systems.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Cold-chain, Food Processing, Pharmaceutical Capacity Expansion
• Demand for Energy-efficient, Low-leakage Cooling
• Fluid Viscosity and Pumping Penalty at Low Temperatures

Segment Analysis

Glycols held 44.13% of the secondary refrigerants market share in 2025. Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol work with stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and carbon steel systems when appropriate inhibitor packages are used. Propylene glycol has a food-safety advantage in applications where incidental food contact is possible. Salt brines remain relevant in deep-freeze uses where lower material cost can offset higher corrosion risk. Carbon dioxide is projected to advance at an 8.35% CAGR through 2031. Carbon dioxide has a global warming potential of 1 and a high volumetric heat capacity, which supports its use in commercial refrigeration secondary-loop designs.

The secondary refrigerants market size for carbon dioxide is supported by supermarket operators seeking alternatives to legacy hydrofluorocarbon racks. The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council projected that secondary-carbon-dioxide store installations in the United States would grow 620% between 2024 and 2028. Climalife stated that its Greenway Neo N fluid, made from bio-1,3-propanediol produced through renewable-corn fermentation, has up to 84% lower carbon dioxide emissions and uses 70% less nonrenewable energy than conventional propylene glycol. The fluid has NSF HT1 registration for food-adjacent uses. Food and pharmaceutical buyers are increasingly assessing the embodied carbon of heat-transfer fluids. This places greater importance on certified renewable feedstocks and documented fluid performance.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Product Type
  • Glycols
  • Salt Brines
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Other Product Types
• By Application
  • Heat Pumps
  • Commercial Refrigeration
  • Industrial Refrigeration
  • Air Conditioning
  • Other Applications
• By Geography
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN Countries
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Italy
    • NORDIC Countries
    • Rest of Europe
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Rest of South America
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Rest of Middle East and Africa

Geography Analysis

Europe held 33.67% of the secondary refrigerants market share in 2025. The region combines district-energy infrastructure, strict fluorinated-gas rules, and active heat-pump deployment. European heat-pump sales reached 2.9 million units in 2025 across 21 countries. Germany recorded 50% heat-pump sales growth in 2025. Germany’s Kälte-Klima-Richtlinie program supports eligible refrigeration and cooling systems using non-halogenated refrigerants through the end of 2026.

Asia-Pacific is projected to advance at an 8.10% CAGR through 2031. Demand is linked to cold-chain investment in China, India, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. China added more than 15 million cubic meters of refrigerated warehouse capacity from 2019 to 2025. Japan and South Korea have mature cooling systems where retrofits and charge-reduction programs create incremental demand. Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are developing modern cold chains as investment activity increases. This creates an opening for glycol, brine, and carbon dioxide systems suited to local operating conditions.

North America drives demand through supermarket conversions and pharmaceutical cold-chain activity. The regulatory path under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act continues to encourage lower-global-warming-potential refrigerant systems. The secondary refrigerants market size in the region also benefits from data-center investments that require specialized liquid coolants. South America has demand from food processing and cold storage. The Middle East and Africa have emerging needs in commercial real estate and temperature-controlled logistics. These regions remain smaller demand pools, but cooling infrastructure can create longer-term fluid requirements.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• A-Gas International Limited
• Arteco
• BASF
• CLARIANT
• Climalife Groupe Dehon
• Dow
• Dynalene, Inc.
• Eastman Chemical Company
• Evonik Industries AG
• Gas Servei
• Hydratech
• Linde PLC
• National Refrigerants, Inc.
• SRS Frigadon Ltd
• Tazzetti S.p.A.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support