TABLE OF CONTENTS

Natural Refrigerant Sales Trends
Natural refrigerants Revenues €m
Natural refrigerants Volumes
(Tonnes) R717 Sales Volumes
A growing market for CO 2
, NH 3
, HCs
Overall, the market for the three natural refrigerants
ammonia (R717), carbon dioxide (R744) and the group of
hydrocarbons - mostly propane R290, isobutane R600a,
propylene R1270, and ethylene R1150 - is experiencing
significant growth.
Based on data of a leading refrigerant supplier with a
global presence, the total market for natural refrigerants
is growing, with a 11% reported increase in revenues, and
a 14% increase in volumes per annum from 2008 to 2010.
However, growth within the total natural refrigerants
market differs significantly for CO 2
, hydrocarbons and
ammonia. While ammonia is the most-established
market, by far, CO 2
and hydrocarbons have shown strong
double-digit revenue & volume growth. The relative
increase of sales and volumes indicated by the supplier
is a good indicator for global trends, given that the
supplier’s market share within the natural refrigerant
supply remained relatively constant over the reported
period.
Ammonia: mature and stable markets
Ammonia today is the most-established refrigerant
market with large sales in terms of volumes and revenues.
As a result, it has shown only modest growth over the last
few years, with a reported increase of 6% in sales, and
3% in volumes, respectively. Regarding its geographic
distribution, all world regions use ammonia, with the
cold chain and food-processing industries particularly
reliant on the natural refrigerant.
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