US commercial refrigeration equipment

Transportation refrigeration systems are the largest share of commercial refrigeration equipment demand in the US at 23 percent of the 2015 total.
According to a new study from Freedonia US demand for commercial refrigeration equipment is forecast to rise 3.1 percent per year through 2020 to USD 11.3 billion, moderating from the 2010-2015 period, when growth was bolstered by a rebound in sales after the economic recession. Despite this slowdown, suppliers are expected to benefit from the phase-out of R-22 refrigerant scheduled to occur in 2020, as this will prompt commercial refrigeration equipment operators to either retrofit their equipment to use an acceptable alternative refrigerant, which will increase parts demand, or to replace their existing equipment, which will boost system sales. A number of alternative refrigerants can be used instead of R-22, and retrofitting is the less costly option for operators.

Transportation refrigeration systems are the largest share of commercial refrigeration equipment demand in the US at 23 percent of the 2015 total. However, these products will record the slowest rate of increase in demand through 2020 due to a significant slowdown in refrigerated truck and trailer fleet expansion activity following a period of robust gains between 2010 and 2015. Beverage refrigeration equipment and display cases will post the fastest sales increases through 2020. Beverage refrigeration equipment sales will be boosted by continued growth in eating and drinking establishments and associated food service revenues.

Display case demand gains will stem largely from the phase-out of R-22, as many older display case systems still utilize R-22 as the refrigerant. Shipments of commercial refrigeration equipment by US manufacturing plants are projected to advance 2.6 percent annually through 2020 to USD 10.6 billion, leaving the country with a trade deficit equivalent to six percent of demand. While the majority of US production will continue to be utilized to satisfy local demand, competition from less costly imported products, especially from regional neighbor Mexico, as well as China, will intensify, limiting industry output gains.

Source: Freedonia, March 2016