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
USW cheers Evraz NA agreement with Atlas Holdings
The United Steelworkers (USW) labor union celebrated recent news of the signed agreement between Atlas Holdings and Evraz NA in which the Connecticut-based private equity company said it plans to acquire North America’s Evraz facilities.
Steel buyer spirits tempered by soft spot market conditions
Steel sheet buyers report feeling bogged down by the ongoing stresses of stagnant demand, news fatigue, tariff negotiations or implementation timelines, and persistent macroeconomic uncertainty.
Hot-rolled coil buyers continue seeking certainty
Steel market participants contend that buyers will remain in “wait-and-see" mode until some market stability is restored.
Latin American steel advocates warn on cheap import flood
Subsidized Chinese steel imports and cheap steel products from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) entering Latin American (LATAM) are threatening the region's steel market.
CRU: Steel prices fall amid global demand weakness
The forceful headwinds bearing down on steel markets across the globe have created demand challenges and sent prices southward. The US, however, challenged the global trend.