Steel Markets

AHRI Shipments Down In January

Written by Becca Moczygemba


US heating and cooling equipment shipments were down in January, according to recently released data from the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

Total shipments in January were 1.65 million units, compared to 1.68 in December, and down 9% compared to the same time last year.  

The highest shipment levels of 2022 were recorded in March, and they remained elevated through June. Typically, the months from March to June are peak season for heating and cooling equipment shipments. But 2020 and 2021 did not align with this pattern due to the pandemic.

On a 12-month moving average (12MMA) basis, shipments were lower at 1.92 million units per month vs. 2.03 million units in January 2022.

AHRIJan2023 Fig1

As shown in the chart below, total heating and cooling shipments on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis through January were down 9% compared with the same period last year.

AHRIJan2023 Fig2

The year-over-year (YoY) growth rate in January was down 9%.

Residential and commercial storage water heater shipments decreased 9% YoY to a combined 784,174 units in January when 766,231 units were shipped for residential use and 17,943 units for commercial use. Water heater shipments were down 1% vs. the prior month.

January shipments of warm air furnaces totaled 258,944 units, a decrease of 16% compared with the same month in 2022.

Central air conditioners and air-source heat pump shipments were down 20% YoY, totaling 609,156 total units in January; 327,455 air conditioners and 281,701 heat pumps were shipped. AC and heat pump shipments were down 1% compared with levels one month prior.

AHRIJan2023 Fig3

 The full press release from which this data comes from is available on the AHRI website.

An interactive history of heating and cooling equipment shipment data is available on our website. If you need assistance logging in to or navigating the website, please contact us at info@steelmarketupdate.com.

By Becca Moczygemba, becca@steelmarketupdate.com

Becca Moczygemba

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