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    Analysis

    October 12, 2021

    HVAC Shipments Ease in August, But Strong for the Year

    Written by Brett Linton

    U.S. heating and cooling equipment shipments slowed in August to 2.05 million units, down 2.4% from July and down 11.4% from June’s record-high of 2.32 million units, according to recent data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). August levels are down 1.8% from levels seen one year prior. Recall that 2020 monthly shipment levels were somewhat erratic; shipments in the second quarter were significantly impacted by the coronavirus shutdowns, resulting in a surge in Q3/Q4 shipments as manufacturers ramped up production.

    Total 2021 shipments through August are now up to 16.6 million units, up 13.5% compared to 14.6 million units shipped in the same period of 2020. As seen in the chart below, year-to-date (YTD) shipments for all three equipment types are at record levels, each the highest seen in SMU’s 14-year data history.

    Brett Linton

    Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

    Read more from Brett Linton

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