chemical · input
1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; pharmaceutical-grade hydrofluoroalkane propellant used in the majority of pMDIs globally. GWP of 1,430. Must meet >99.99% purity with tightly controlled moisture specs. Subject to EU F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 quota phase-down from 2025 with 85% reduction required by 2030. Koura is the only FDA-registered active US supplier.
4
Source countries
3
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
1 essential American goods rely on hfa-134a propellant (norflurane) somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| MXMexico | 45% |
| GBUnited Kingdom | 28% |
| USUnited States | 12% |
| CNChina | 8% |
Who makes it
3 companies produce hfa-134a propellant (norflurane).
Division of Orbia (formerly Mexichem). World leader in pharmaceutical-grade HFA propellants under the Zephex brand. Zephex 134a in ~75% of global pMDIs. Only FDA-registered active HFA-134a supplier in the US. Opened world's first commercial HFA-152a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Runcorn, UK in March 2022.
American industrial conglomerate (Nasdaq: HON, HQ Charlotte NC; ~$36B revenue); Performance Materials and Technologies division produces HFA-134a refrigerant and pharmaceutical-grade propellant, as well as next-generation low-GWP alternatives including Solstice® HFO-1234yf (automotive AC replacement) and HFA-152a (low-GWP pMDI propellant for next-generation inhalers). Honeywell is developing pharmaceutical-grade HFA-152a as the primary replacement for HFA-134a in pMDIs as EU F-gas regulations phase down 134a — GWP of 152a is 4 vs 1,430 for 134a, meeting European climate targets. AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and other pharma companies are partnering with Honeywell to develop and qualify HFA-152a-propelled inhalers for regulatory submission. Honeywell's position as both an HFA-134a producer AND a leading HFA-152a developer gives it a unique role in the regulatory transition threatening the current pMDI supply chain.
Belgian specialty chemical company (Euronext: SOLB; post-2023 split Solvay entity; HQ Brussels); Specialty Polymers division produces HFA refrigerants and fluoropolymers. Solvay produces HFA-134a at European facilities as part of its fluorine chemistry chain. For pharmaceutical applications, Solvay competes with Koura in European pharma-grade HFA-134a supply. Solvay is also developing HFC alternatives for the EU F-gas phase-down. Solvay's HFA-134a European production was subject to F-gas quota restrictions, which have tightened annually since 2015.
