Worthington Enterprises, Chemours Respond to R-454B Cylinder Shortage

A shortage of specially designed metal cylinders required to carry the new A2L refrigerant R-454B has caused panic and frustration throughout the HVACR industry during the entire first half of 2025, in an industry in which big changes never seem to go smoothly.

R-454B, developed and produced by The Chemours Company, is one of two preferred A2L (mildly flammable) refrigerants now in great demand to replace the HFC refrigerant R-410A, which is in the middle of an EPA-mandated phasedown related to concerns over its global warming potential. This authority was granted to the EPA as a result of the 2020 AIM Act.

“The 2020 AIM Act was a piece of legislation that granted the EPA the authority to conduct a gradual reduction in HFC refrigerants, and focused on the production and consumption of those refrigerants, seeking to reduce them by 85% by 2036. And now the market is in the process of shifting away from HFCs like R-410A to replacements like R-32 and R-454B,” explained Wayne Powers, Senior Director of Sales, Cooling and Construction – Building Products, for leading US cylinder manufacturer Worthington Enterprises.

“Many of these new refrigerants are mildly flammable, class A2L refrigerants, and they tend to operate at a higher pressure. The result is, the manufacturers must redesign equipment to ensure safety and HVAC professionals have to be trained in how to properly handle these refrigerants,” Powers said.

“The construction of A2L refrigerant cylinders is unique, involving technically demanding processes and requiring a specific grade of steel and more sophisticated pressure relief device. The surge in demand, both in terms of volume and timing, has certainly stressed the supply chain,” Powers said, adding that the Columbus, Ohio-based cylinder producer has been collaborating closely with its suppliers.

“We have made significant investments in our suppliers to ensure they can meet the growing needs alongside us,” Powers said. “Additionally, Worthington Enterprises has focused on investing directly in our most valuable asset—our people—to maximize the output from our existing capacity. We continue to work in concert with our supply base and customers to meet the increased demand effectively.”

“These modifications for the HVAC equipment, the A2L refrigerants and the containers have all served to strain supply chains at each respective level of support,” Powers added. “This acutely manifested itself as it pertains to demand for refrigerants beginning in September 2024 for R-32, and that was picking up steam into the late stages of the winter of 2024 and into December. Then the R-454B surge took place a little later, into the first quarter of 2025.”

Caught by Surprise

Powers told RSES Journal there was no lack of advance planning by major supply-siders, however, huge demand and OEM’s unexpected decisions to increase unit production took Worthington by surprise.

“There was forethought and planning activity and communication from our customers (the refrigerant producers) with their customers (the equipment OEMs). And the refrigerant producers were communicating and making plans. However, when the demand began to hit it was simply greater than what was anticipated. This being for a number of reasons: first, the equipment OEMs had actually launched earlier than what was anticipated, and second, they began producing HVAC units on multiple [production] lines, when it was initially planned for one. That began a higher level of demand than was expected right from the outset. That continued to grow in terms of the demand surge as time moved forward,” Powers said.

Cylinder Output Will Increase

Powers said Worthington Enterprises—which has supplied cylinders to the HVACR industry since 1971, and A2L cylinders since 2013—has taken big steps to increase cylinder production, including extensive additions to its production facilities.

“We’ve had continuous service to our contractual customers and their forecasted demand since that period of time,” Powers said. “Those customers who returned to Worthington Enterprises recently after being supplied by foreign competitors are being serviced at current lead times. Those lead times will continue to improve as we work our way through the summer. Worthington Enterprises added two additional production crews to our operation in Columbus, OH. It operates 24/7, but we’re now staffing to optimize the output of that facility. Additionally, we’ve added a full third shift at our Paducah, Kentucky facility. Worthington Enterprises is making every effort to respond to this surge, to help alleviate some of the constraints.

“Those investments restore us to personnel levels that have not been seen at Worthington Enterprises since the late stage of COVID. This recent surge in demand is actually somewhat similar to the demand we experienced during that time frame.”

Chemours to Increase Line Fill Capacity

Denise M. Dignam, President and Chief Executive Officer & Director, The Chemours Co., speaking during a recent first quarter earnings call—described Chemours’s efforts to continue to meet unexpected demand for its Opteon refrigerant blend R-454B.

“Demand has been even higher than expected as stationary OEMs build inventories and experience increased sell-through demand in connection with the 2025 transition mandate under the US AIM Act. This stronger than anticipated demand is also putting pressure on various areas of the supply chain, noticeably around cylinders used to ship and transport the R-454B blend for stationary aftermarket sales,” Dignam said.

Dignam said Chemours is increasing its line fill capacity to speed the process of filling cylinders as they arrive from sources.

“We believe this situation will correct itself quickly and will not be a long-term issues for Chemours' ability to support the R-454B market transition,” Dignam said.

Dignam told call participants Chemours had a successful ramp-up of its 40% capacity expansion of Opteon feedstock at its facility in Corpus Christi, TX.”

The companies can be found at Chemours.com and WorthingtonEnterprises.com.