Steel Markets

AHRI Releases July 2013 U.S. Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data
Written by Brett Linton
September 16, 2013
Residential Storage Water Heaters
U.S. shipments of residential gas storage water heaters for July 2013 increased 14.1 percent, to 296,623 units, up from 260,065 units shipped in July 2012. Residential electric storage water heater shipments increased 11.2 percent in July 2013, to 286,013 units, up from 257,290 units shipped in July 2012.
For the year-to-date, U.S. shipments of residential gas storage water heaters increased 8.5 percent, to 2,500,077, compared to 2,304,879 units shipped during the same period in 2012. Residential electric storage water heater shipments increased 6.2 percent year-to-date, to 2,338,923 units, compared to 2,203,251 units shipped during the same period in 2012.
Commercial Storage Water Heaters
Commercial gas storage water heater shipments increased 42.8 percent in July 2013, to 7,043 units, up from 4,932 units shipped in July 2012. Commercial electric storage water heater shipments increased 7.7 percent in July 2013, to 5,665 units, up from 5,260 units shipped in July 2012.
Year-to-date U.S. shipments of commercial gas storage water heaters increased 13.6 percent, to 54,126 units, compared with 47,634 units shipped during the same period in 2012. Year-to-date commercial electric storage water heater shipments increased 3.9 percent to 39,687 units, up from 38,201 units shipped during the same period in 2012.
Warm Air Furnaces
U.S. shipments of gas warm air furnaces for July 2013 increased 16.9 percent, to 202,519 units, up from 173,259 units shipped in July 2012. Oil warm air furnace shipments decreased 10.8 percent, to 1,596 units in July 2013, down from 1,789 units shipped in July 2012.
Year-to-date U.S. shipments of gas warm air furnaces increased 22.3 percent, to 1,368,297 units, compared with 1,118,872 units shipped during the same period in 2012. Year-to-date U.S. shipments of oil warm air furnaces decreased 6.5 percent to 13,380, compared with 14,304 units shipped during the same period in 2012.
Central Air Conditioners and Air-Source Heat Pumps
U.S. shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps totaled 721,979 units in July 2013, up 15.2 percent from 626,951 units shipped in July 2012. U.S. shipments of air conditioners increased 12.0 percent, to 522,289 units, up from 466,312 units shipped in July 2012. U.S. shipments of air-source heat pumps increased 24.3 percent, to 199,690 units, up from 160,639 units shipped in July 2012.
Year-to-date combined shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps increased 10.6 percent, to 4,259,917 units, up from 3,852,992 units shipped in July 2012. Year-to-date shipments of central air conditioners increased 7.7 percent, to 2,932,810 units, up from 2,723,570 units shipped during the same period in 2012. The year-to-date total for heat pump shipments increased 17.5 percent, to 1,327,107 units, up from 1,129,422 units shipped during the same period in 2012.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Markets

Week in Review: Sept. 29 -Oct. 3
Let’s take a quick tour of some key stories from SMU in the week of Sept. 29 - Oct. 3.

Hot-rolled coil sources lament stagnant conditions
Participants in the hot-rolled sheet market expressed frustration with the continuing lack of demand this week.

Plate market sources critique mill hikes amid current market conditions
Following spot market plate price increase notices issued by domestic mills this past week, participants are contemplating the rationale behind the increases and whether they will stick. Some sources anticipate that current market conditions will shift in November and believe the increases may set a new "pricing floor."

ITC’s final ruling: Dumped, subsidized CORE imports are harming domestic market
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) finds that corrosion resistant steel (CORE) imports from 10 countries have caused material damage to domestic product producers, according to the ITC’s statement.

HR buyers report mixed market conditions
Hot-rolled coil market participants said they’re staying on their toes amid a market that continues to be characterized by uncertainty. A veteran Midwest-based service center operator contends that current conditions are unprecedentedly volatile. Being flexible with customers and strategic with mills is the only way to navigate through the uncertainty, he said. “No one wants […]