Producer
National Refrigerants, Inc.
U.S. refrigerant distributor and reclaimer (HQ Philadelphia PA); one of the largest independent refrigerant distributors in North America. Markets R600a isobutane refrigerant for household refrigerators following EPA SNAP program expansion (2021, then further in 2023). Sources isobutane from petroleum and NGL producers, purifies to refrigerant grade, and packages for sale to appliance OEMs and service technicians.
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Natural Refrigerant Distribution (R600a, R290)
20%HFC Refrigerant Distribution
50%Refrigerant Reclamation & Recycling
20%Equipment & Service
10%
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Did you know2023
National Refrigerants distributes both conventional HFCs (R-22, R-410A, R-404A -- the refrigerants in most existing commercial and residential HVAC systems) AND the R-454B that EPA AIM Act regulations are mandating for all new residential AC from 2025, AND natural refrigerants (R600a, R290) for household refrigerators. The same distributor serves the installed base of existing HFC equipment (maintenance and service market) AND the new construction market transitioning to R-454B AND the household refrigerator OEM market using R600a. An NRI supply disruption -- warehouse fire, logistics failure, or loss of EPA certification -- would simultaneously affect: HVAC technicians unable to service existing R-22/R-410A equipment, refrigerator manufacturers unable to source R600a for new production, and contractors unable to obtain R-454B for new HVAC installations. The US refrigerant distribution sector for multiple refrigerant types is concentrated in a small number of distributors that serve all market segments simultaneously.
National Refrigerants, Inc. ↗Origin2023
National Refrigerants, Inc. occupies a structurally important middleman position in the US refrigerant supply chain: it sources refrigerant-grade isobutane (R600a) from petroleum and NGL byproduct streams, purifies it to EPA SNAP program purity standards, and distributes it to appliance OEMs (refrigerator manufacturers) and service technicians replacing refrigerants in existing appliances. Without NRI and similar distributors, the upstream petroleum isobutane (produced at ExxonMobil, Phillips 66, and other refineries as a byproduct) would not reach the appliance supply chain in appropriately purified, packaged, and compliant form. NRI is one of a small number of US entities that hold EPA certifications for handling R600a, which is classified as a flammable refrigerant requiring specific safety protocols that limit the number of distributors who can enter the market. The flammability certification requirement creates an oligopoly of qualified US R600a distributors -- a regulatory constraint that concentrates the market and means refrigerator manufacturers have limited options for domestic R600a sourcing.
National Refrigerants, Inc. ↗