HFC phasedown accelerated in 2024, EPA data shows

The industry-wide phasedown of HFCs hummed along in 2024, according to newly released data from the EPA. 

The big picture: The AIM Act, signed by President Trump in 2020, directed the EPA to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs by 85 percent from their ‘baseline’ levels by 2036. Last year, a step-down to 60 percent of those levels occurred as planned, with a halving, to 30 percent, set to take effect in 2029. 

What’s happening: Production, consumption, and inventories of HFCs, including R-410A — a blend of R-32 and R-125 — in 2024 all fell compared to 2023, the data shows. (The EPA’s annual releases, in September, look backward by one year.)

• The total combined production of R-32 and R-125 dropped nearly 20 percent from 82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) in 2023 to roughly 66 million.
• Meanwhile, consumption of the two HFCs plunged 31 percent to 116 million MTCO2e.

Zoom in: Inventory-wise, refrigerant producers, importers, exporters, and reclaimers had on hand over 67,000 metric tons of combined R-32 and R-125 as of December 31, 2024, per the data, marking a 12.5 percent year-over-year decrease. 

• U.S. imports of the HFCs also fell over the period — by 34 percent.
• Of note: Of all the R-410A imported into the U.S. in 2024, over 70 percent entered at just two ports — in Houston, TX, and Charleston, SC. 

Yes, and: Reclamation has picked up. The total quantity of HFCs received by refrigerant reclaimers in 2024 stood at 5,027 metric tons, a 20 percent jump from 2023. 

What we’re watching: While the adoption of A2L refrigerants has accelerated as a result of the phasedown, the EPA in late August hinted at extending the January 1, 2026, sell-through deadline for certain residential and light commercial ACs and heat pumps. (A formal announcement, however, has yet to be made.)