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    Analysis

    January 18, 2022

    November Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipments Decline

    Written by Brett Linton

    U.S. heating and cooling equipment shipments in November declined 12.9% from October to 1.78 million units, according to recent data from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). However, November shipment levels are up 7.6% from those 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. This past June saw a record-high shipment level of 2.32 million units in a single month.

    Total 2021 shipments through November are now up to 22.5 million units, up 10.4% compared to 20.4 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 remain at record levels in 2021, 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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