Why does R-22 still have a market?
Millions of air conditioners, chillers, cold rooms, and industrial refrigeration systems installed before the phase-out still run on R-22 and need refrigerant when they leak or are repaired. Many of these systems are in commercial buildings, factories, supermarkets, and homes in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, where replacement is expensive. As long as these systems remain in operation, owners and contractors need R-22 or a compatible retrofit refrigerant.

What is the HCFC phase-out schedule?
Under the Montreal Protocol, developed countries completed the HCFC phase-out in 2020 with a 0.5% servicing allowance through 2030. Developing (Article 5) countries froze consumption in 2013, cut it by 10% in 2015, 35% in 2020, and 67.5% in 2025, and must complete the phase-out in 2030, with an average 2.5% servicing tail allowed from 2030 to 2040. These steps define how much new R-22 can enter the market.

How is R-22 servicing regulated in the United States?
The EPA allows virgin HCFC-22 to be used only for servicing systems manufactured before 2010. If a system is expanded to increase cooling capacity, it is treated as new and must use recovered or reclaimed R-22. Recovered and reclaimed R-22 remains legal after the 2020 production phase-out, and the EPA notes that both new and reclaimed R-22 are likely to rise in price as supply declines.

Which applications use the most R-22?
Residential and light commercial air conditioning represents the largest installed base, followed by commercial refrigeration in supermarkets and cold rooms, industrial refrigeration, direct expansion and centrifugal chillers, and transport refrigeration. Industrial users often keep R-22 systems running for long periods because replacement requires shutdowns and capital spending.

What alternatives are used to replace R-22?
Common drop-in or retrofit alternatives include HFC blends such as R-407C, which BITZER describes as the preferred R-22 substitute for air conditioning and heat pumps, and R-422D, R-438A, and R-448A for refrigeration. New equipment typically uses R-410A, R-32, R-454B, or natural refrigerants. Each retrofit reduces future R-22 demand, so the market depends on the pace at which owners choose to replace or retrofit equipment.

How does HCFC-22 feedstock use affect supply?
HCFC-22 is also an important feedstock for fluoropolymers such as PTFE. Feedstock use is not controlled under the Montreal Protocol consumption limits, so HCFC-22 production capacity continues to exist for chemical use even as refrigerant use is phased out. This keeps production know-how and capacity in place, but emissive refrigerant use is still restricted.

What role does China play?
China is the largest producer and consumer of HCFC-22 and is implementing a staged HCFC phase-out. From 1 July 2026, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment banned HCFCs as blowing agents in extruded polystyrene foam, removing a major non-refrigerant use of HCFC-22. Further cuts in refrigeration and air-conditioning manufacturing reduce new demand, leaving servicing as the main use.

How do refrigerators and freezers contribute to R-22 demand?
Older commercial refrigerators, freezers, walk-in cold rooms, and condensing units in food retail and foodservice were often built with R-22. These systems run continuously, are frequently opened, and are prone to leaks, so they need regular servicing. In many developing countries, small shops, restaurants, and hotels keep such equipment in use well past its design life, which supports steady demand for small cylinders of R-22.

How is technician training linked to the R-22 market?
Proper recovery, recycling, and leak repair reduce the amount of R-22 needed for servicing and help countries meet their HCFC targets. Training programmes funded through the Montreal Protocol’s Multilateral Fund teach technicians good servicing practice, use of recovery machines, and safe retrofitting to alternatives. Better servicing lowers leak rates over time, which moderates volume demand while improving the quality of the remaining market.

Which R22 refrigerant market segments are growing fastest?
Reclaimed and recovered R-22 sold for servicing, residential and light commercial air conditioning servicing in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, commercial refrigeration servicing in supermarkets and cold storage, and industrial chillers kept in operation until planned replacement are the fastest-growing segments by value.