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MEMORANDUM: Preliminary 2011 and 2012 Sales and Distribution Data from the 

California Air Resources Board’s Refrigerant Management Program

Figure 1. HCFC Refrigerants Sold or Distributed in California During 2011

MT Sold/ 

Distributed

Composition of Refrigerant/Blend Total MT by HCFC

R-22 R-123 R-124 R-142b R-22 R-123 R-124 R-142b

R-123 19.7 100% 0.0 19.7 0.0 0.0

R-124 0.5 100% 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0

R-22 2,540 100% 2,540 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-401A 28.2 53% 34% 14.9 0.0 9.6 0.0

R-401B 3.2 61% 28% 2.0 0.0 0.9 0.0

R-402A 20.2 38% 7.7 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-402B 0.2 60% 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-408A 103.6 47% 48.7 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-409A 25.9 60% 25% 15% 15.6 0.0 6.5 3.9

R-414A 8.8 51% 29% 17% 4.5 0.0 2.5 1.5

R-414B 46.3 50% 39% 10% 23.1 0.0 18.1 4.4

R-416A 1.1 40% 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0

R-502 2.5 49% 1.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

CA Totals 2,658 19.7 38.5 9.7

Figure 2. HCFC Refrigerants Sold or Distributed in California During 2012

MT Sold/ 

Distributed

Composition of Refrigerant/Blend Total MT by HCFC

R-22 R-123 R-124 R-142b R-22 R-123 R-124 R-142b

R-123 16.8 100% 0.0 16.8 0.0 0.0

R-124 0.5 100% 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0

R-22 2,261 100% 2,261 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-401A 19.1 53% 34% 10.1 0.0 6.5 0.0

R-401B 3.2 61% 28% 2.0 0.0 0.9 0.0

R-402A 16.3 38% 6.2 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-402B 0.2 60% 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-408A 86.1 47% 40.5 0.0 0.0 0.0

R-409A 73.2 60% 25% 15% 43.9 0.0 18.3 11

R-414B 41.9 50% 39% 10% 21 0.0 16.3 4.2

R-416A 2.1 40% 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0

R-502 2.1 49% 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

CA Totals 2,386 16.8 43.3 15.2

Key – In figures 1 & 2, the column on the far left lists different types of HCFC refrigerants and 

refrigerant blends. Directly to the right of that column is the number of metric tons (MT) sold for each 

HCFC refrigerant and refrigerant blend. The next four columns break down the percentages of each 

HCFC refrigerant contained in each blend. The adjoining four column table converts these percentages 

into MT for each HCFC refrigerant.
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When reading the above tables, please take into account the following considerations:

 These tables cover most of the HCFC refrigerant sales in California, but there may be some 

missing data. 

 Note that about 25 percent of the distributors have not reported their 2012 sales information

as of May 13, 2013.

 For 2011 sales, there was probably under-reporting as well, because the reporting requirement 

was brand new and not all distributors were aware of it.

 Not included in the tables is the amount of refrigerant “pre-charged” into systems such as 

residential air-conditioning.

 Not included in the tables are internet sales, or any out-of-state sellers that ship directly to the 

refrigerant user. 

 The extent of under-reporting is unknown. For example, in 2011, it is estimated that 

approximately 10,432 MT of refrigerant were emitted from stationary refrigeration and airconditioning systems in California. The sales of new, presumably replacement refrigerant, are 

not even half that amount. Of course, many old, large systems are being replaced with smaller 

systems, which may explain part of that discrepancy.

o Note, refrigerant leakage is a small sub-set of actual refrigerant use (leakage) in 

California. The current tables covering refrigerant leakage only include commercial 

facilities with at least one system containing more than 0.9 MT of high-GWP refrigerant.

Therefore, the tables can only be used on a relative basis.

Source – Personal Correspondence between Luke Hall-Jordan, EPA, and Glenn Gallagher, California Air 

Resources Board Research Division, May 13, 2013