How Do We Make Money from:

[James48843]

So I am hearing through sources that there is now developing a critical shortage of REFRIGERANT. Specifically, demand is outpacing supply of R454B, used in, among other things- air cooler slit environmental units. What cost. $ 8 a pound a year ago is suddenly $500 a can premium today.

Question: how do we invest to make money from the shortage? Who makes it? Who sells it? What can we find out?

Research time- help me out. I saw this as a teaser:

Factors Driving R-454B Refrigerant Prices in 2025​

Several factors contribute to the high and volatile price of R-454B in the USA:

1. Limited Supply: R-454B is still a new refrigerant, and production hasn’t scaled to meet demand. Supply chain issues, exacerbated by the 2025 mandate, have led to shortages, pushing prices up.
2. Regulatory Mandates: The EPA’s phase-out of R-410A has increased demand for R-454B, creating a supply-demand imbalance.
3. Complex Manufacturing: R-454B’s blend of R-32 and R-1234yf requires sophisticated production processes, raising costs compared to R-410A.
4. Raw Material Costs: The Fluorite Raw Material Index (FMI) influences refrigerant prices, with rising costs of materials like hydrofluoric acid impacting R-454B.
5. Mild Flammability (A2L): R-454B requires specialized handling and safety features, such as leak detection sensors, adding to system and service costs.

Recent posts on X highlight contractor frustrations, noting a $500 price increase per jug in just four months and limited availability, further driving costs. As your licensed HVAC contractor, we stay ahead of these challenges, securing R-454B for your installations and repairs at the best possible rates.

 

[rangerray]

Air conditioners are a sore subject at my house.


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[Boghie]

If the price has already climbed a hundred-fold you have already missed the speculation bubble.

This will iron out. That is the beauty of the capitalist system. Greed will result in other businesses getting into the generation of this product. Then, they will undercut each other in an effort to sell their stuff.

By this time it is too late.