Refrigerant prices Q3 2025: signs of stabilization but new elements to monitor

The quarterly monitoring of refrigerant prices in the European Union provides an interesting picture of market developments in the second half of 2025.

The analysis shows a slight decline for some traditional high-GWP blends and modest changes for low-GWP alternatives , suggesting a transition and reorganization of the supply chain. For those operating in the HVAC/R sector, these data should be read carefully: they influence costs, purchasing strategies, system design, and maintenance plans.

Moderate decline in HFCs: R134a and R410A show a slight decrease

In Q3 2025, the prices of some “historical” refrigerants show signs of containment compared to the recent past.

In particular, high GWP blends such as R134a and R410A show a negative variation , both in terms of purchase price along the distribution chain and in terms of the trend recorded compared to the previous year.

This decrease, though moderate, could reflect declining demand for traditional HFCs—a consequence of ongoing environmental policies and the growing penetration of alternative solutions. For operators, this is a signal to be interpreted with a view to inventory planning and potential plant conversion or replacement strategies.

Low-GWP alternatives and natural refrigerants: stable prices, but watch out for future demand

For those low-GWP blends or alternative fluids—intended to progressively replace HFCs—the quarter saw limited changes. Refrigerants considered "green" or with a low environmental impact maintained consistent prices, without significant increases along the supply chain.

This scenario can be read as a sign of stability in the transition , which however does not eliminate the uncertainties linked to future demand: the actual speed of plant conversion, regulatory constraints and the availability of dedicated components will remain key elements for large-scale diffusion.

Why these trends matter to manufacturers, designers and maintainers

From the perspective of HVAC/R operators, refrigerant price trends influence more than one aspect:

• in the short term, the service costs for maintenance and charging activities;
• in the medium-long term, the economic viability of migrating from HFCs to low-GWP or natural alternatives;
• investment planning: choice of fluids, replacement times, system requalification;
• supply chain management and selection of reliable suppliers;
• compliance with environmental regulations and sustainability rules which within a few years will lead to an almost total switch from high-GWP refrigerants.

In practice, knowing pricing trends allows you to anticipate strategies, optimize costs and reduce operational and regulatory risks.