Source: CHEAA-run China Appliance magazine
It is learned that there are 22 enterprises applying for quotas for HCFCs production and 50 for use this year. The involved products include HCFC-22 and HCFC-141b. The total quota for HCFC-22 production comes to 225,171 tons, down by 41,650 tons from 266,821 tons of 2019, while that for HCFC-141b production 50,878 tons, down by 11,430 tons from 62,308 tons of 2019.
Once being a widely used refrigerant of air conditioner industry, HCFC-22 has been gradually phased down in recent years with HCFC-22-based models taking a shrinking market size. It is learned that, HCFC-22 air conditioners took a market share of 20% in 2019, which is expected to go down to 15% even 10% in 2020. For year 2020, the total quota for HCFC-22 used in room air conditioners comes to 35,215 tons, of which Gree takes 11,452 tons, Midea 10,738 tons, Haier 2,062 tons, TCL 2,251 tons, Hisense 1,200 tons, Chigo 2,797 tons, Aux 1,441 tons, Changhong 616 tons, Panasonic 536 tons, Yair 327 tons, Shinco 135 tons, Mitsubishi 160 tons and Galanz 1,500 tons. Gree and Midea took a share of 32.5% and 30.5% respectively.
As to HCFC-141b, Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment announced a ban on October 9 2018 on the use of the ozone depleting substance Dichlorofluoroethane (HCFC-141b ) as a chemical foaming agent for insulation in refrigerators/freezers, refrigerated containers and electrical storage water heaters that took effect starting January 1 2019. As I learn, refrigerator industry, freezer industry and electric water heater industry have completely phased out HCFC-141b.