Steel Markets

AHRI: Shipments Up in May
Written by Becca Moczygemba
July 18, 2023
US heating and cooling equipment shipments recovered in May, according to the most recent data released from the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).
The total amount of units shipped for the month of May was 1.98 million, compared to 1.74 million units in April. Shipments were up 13% month-over-month (MoM), but down 6% year-over-year (YoY).
On a 12-month moving average (12MMA) basis, shipments were down to 1.85 million units per month compared to 2.03 million units in May 2022.
As shown in the chart below, the annual rate of change in heating and cooling shipments on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis has been trending downward since mid-2022.
Residential and commercial water heater shipments increased 10% YoY to a combined 814,889 units in May, increasing from 778,146 units in April.
May shipments of warm air furnaces totaled 249,477 units, showing no change compared to April, but down 23% from a year earlier.
Central air conditioners and air-source heat pump shipments were up 28% MoM but down 11% YoY. Units shipped in May totaled 908,050. When broken down by product, 527,908 air conditioners and 380,142 heat pumps were shipped.
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
Read more from Becca MoczygembaLatest in Steel Markets

Steel Summit: Schneider sees SDI ‘on the edge of a very good run’
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.

Sheet market participants say sales still in a slump
Across the US and throughout the steel supply chain, market participants are reporting another painfully quiet week for hot-rolled (HR) coil sales.

CRU: Lower sheet prices have pulled back demand for imports
Domestic sheet prices in the US remained under pressure, limiting interest in imports, while domestic prices for longs products continued to rise.

President Trump intends to set additional steel tariffs
While boarding Airforce One on Friday, US President Donald Trump stated that he would be setting more steel tariffs and putting ~100% tariffs on semiconductors and chips.

USS, government officials give update on Clairton Coke Works incident
U.S. Steel, Allegheny County executive Sara Innamorato, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro clarified details from early reports about the Clairton Coke Works facility explosion just one day earlier.