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    Analysis

    December 16, 2025

    HVAC equipment shipments down through October

    Written by David Schollaert

    US shipments of heating and cooling equipment fell 11% in October from September to the lowest monthly rate of the year, and an eight-year low, according to the latest data released by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI).

    October shipments have generally been slightly above average, but this October came in much softer than usual. Shipments totaled 1.39 million units, 27% less than the same month last year (Figure 1, left), and the lowest total since February 2017. And shipments of warm-air furnaces and air conditioners/heat pumps both declined month over month (m/m), as did water heater shipments.

    David Schollaert

    David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

    Read more from David Schollaert

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