Heat Pump Shipments Climb 6% After Refrigerant Transition Dip
Supply Chain
HARDI reported on July 7 that heat pump shipments rose 6% in the February-April 2026 period compared to the same months last year. This signals a rebound after a technology-driven slowdown. The 12-month total through April still shows a 13.9% decline to 10.8 million units. This was driven by distributors who over-purchased in late 2024 and early 2025 ahead of the refrigerant transition.
Contractors should see steadier equipment availability and potentially better pricing. Distributors are working through excess inventory.
Check with your suppliers about lead times and pricing adjustments. The transition-related supply spike has normalized.
Key Takeaways:
- Heat pump shipments up 6% in recent three-month period vs. year prior
- Annual shipments down 13.9% to 10.8 million units through April 2026
- Decline stems from distributor stockpiling before refrigerant transition in 2024-2025
