HVAC Linesets Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Global HVAC Linesets Market is Segmented By Material(Copper, Low Carbon, Others), By End-User(Residential, Commercial, Industrial), By Implementation(New Construction, Retrofit), and By Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2023-2030 

HVAC Linesets Market Overview

The Global HVAC Linesets Market report analyzes the global market size, shares, recent trends, competitive intelligence, and future market outlook. HVAC linesets are copper or aluminum tubing used to connect air conditioning and refrigeration units with the indoor and outdoor components. The market is driven by the growing construction industry, the increasing demand for energy-efficient HVAC systems, and the replacement and renovation activities in the residential and commercial sectors. In Asia Pacific, the Global HVAC Linesets Market is witnessing significant growth. Key players in the market include Mueller Industries Inc., Maksal Tubes (Pty) Ltd., Wieland-Werke AG, and other prominent players.

HVAC Linesets Market Size

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An HVAC line set is a pair of copper tubes that connect a condenser to an evaporator. If it is a mini-split system, then the line set connects the indoor and outdoor units, where the outdoor unit, which contains the condenser, supplies to the indoor unit, which contains the evaporator with refrigerant.

The lines generally consist of a smaller tube, the liquid or discharge line, that carries the liquid refrigerant to the evaporator for heat absorption. It also has a larger tube, called the suction line, that carries lighter gaseous refrigerant back to the condenser, where the heat rejection occurs.

The refrigerant and vapor in the line sets are continually recirculated in a loop to provide either heating or cooling. The function depends on the direction of the flow. For residential applications that use a single indoor unit, only one line set is required. One line set is required per indoor unit for multi-zone systems, such as those used for industrial and commercial applications. Additional considerations are made for parameters such as total line length, distance, and diameter to ensure the system's proper functioning. Some multi-zone systems may require a branch box situated between the outdoor and indoor units. Branch boxes may require a dedicated line set.

HVAC Linesets Market Dynamics

The demand for HVAC line sets is mainly driven by the increasing rise in global temperatures. The adoption of low-cost cooling solutions is a key factor in limiting the growth of this market. 

The increasing rise in global temperatures

Global warming caused by man-made emissions leads to a rise in global temperatures. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has stated that 2021 will be one of the warmest years on record, with an average global temperature rise of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. It is also the seventh consecutive year of 1°C above average temperature rise. The Paris Agreement of 2015 aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above historical levels and no more than 1.5°C in an ideal scenario.

However, a lack of action from global governments to curb emissions among large emitters indicates an estimated temperature increase of more than 3°C by 2100 and up to 4.8°C under the worst-case scenario. The number of hot days is increasing globally, resulting in a growing demand for cooling solutions. The intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) has predicted that global energy demand due to residential air conditioning will grow 33-fold between 2000 to 2100, mostly in developing countries.

Furthermore, populated cities in hot tropical regions are witnessing temperature rises of multiple degrees. For instance, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has seen an increase of 1.4°C from 1989 to 2019. Additionally, demand for cooling solutions is also growing in temperate climates, such as Europe and North America. Rising heatwaves across Europe and North America will only increase the demand for cooling solutions.

Cities also produce heat, such as warm pollutants ejected from vehicle fumes and industrial activities, which become concentrated due to confinement in buildings and urban structures. It results in microclimates called Urban Heat Islands (UHI). The UHI in a city with more than one million population can result in temperatures between 1-3°C warmer than the surrounding areas. Developed cities with UHI dynamics include London, Paris, New York, and Las Vegas. The rise in global temperatures is a key driver for the growth of the global HVAC line sets market.

Adoption of low-cost cooling solutions

HVAC systems are highly expensive to operate and maintain. Most HVAC systems are used by commercial and industrial establishments that can afford the capital expenditure necessary for operation. The use of residential HVAC systems has been mainly limited to high-income countries and the upper class of developing countries. The overwhelming majority of the global population does not use HVAC systems.

Due to the high costs of HVAC systems, low-cost cooling solutions have been used as substitutes in the developing world. The use of table and ceiling fans and air coolers is used to provide cooling without the high costs. In countries with unreliable or non-existent electricity supply, methods such as natural draft ventilation handled fans, and clothes soaked with cold water are used. These low-cost cooling solutions prevent the wider adoption of modern HVAC systems and are a key challenge to the market's growth.

COVID-19 Impact on HVAC Linesets Market Growth

The global HVAC line sets market experienced uneven impacts on value chains in production and sales in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Commercial and industrial applications saw steep declines since government-imposed lockdowns and restrictions brought a prolonged halt to manufacturing and office work globally.

 Residential demand also declined, as people did not spend money on new units due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. However, maintenance and retrofitting of existing residential HVAC units continued. Supply chain and logistical difficulties caused by the pandemic have disrupted the production of HVAC line sets. The production of HVAC line sets is estimated to recover to pre-pandemic levels by early 2022.

Despite the temporary difficulties caused by the pandemic, the global HVAC line sets market is set for healthy long-term growth. As various industrial sectors return to normalcy and economic growth is restored, the demand for HVAC line sets will recover and grow gradually in the coming years.

HVAC Linesets Market Segmentation Analyiss

The global HVAC line sets market is segmented into material, end-user, implementation, and region. The HVAC line sets market is further segmented into residential, commercial, and industrial based on end-user. The commercial is leading in this segmentation since almost all modern office spaces utilize HVAC systems. The adoption of HVAC systems in industries is fairly limited to specialty industries. Similarly, most upper classes utilize residential HVAC systems.

HVAC Linesets Market Geographical Share

Asia-Pacific is leading in the global HVAC line sets market since most countries in the region are located near the equator and endure high temperatures during the summer months. India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia have extremely hot and humid summers. Some of the largest HVAC line set producers are located in this region.

China is also the largest market for HVAC line sets in the world. Residential and commercial construction has seen a tremendous increase in China in the last two decades. Entire cities have been built from scratch to accommodate the growing urban population. China is also funding various large-scale commercial construction projects throughout the Asia-Pacific region. India is also undertaking massive commercial construction to drive infrastructure-led economic growth. Most modern commercial buildings have centrally fitted HVAC systems.

China also is the largest automobile producer in the world, with more than 25 million passenger vehicles commercial vehicles produced in 2021. HVAC line sets have extensive use in automobiles for air conditioning. India, Japan, and South Korea also have significant automotive industries. The Asia-Pacific region will continue to have the largest market share in the global HVAC line sets market in the coming years.

HVAC Linesets Companies and Competitive Landscape

The global HVAC line sets market is competitive due to the availability of a wide variety of line sets used in different types of applications. The HVAC line sets market is fragmented and has various players such as Halcor, Norsk Hydro ASA, KME Germany GmBH, Mueller Streamline Co., Cerro Flow Products LLC, JMF Company, Feinrohren SpA, Diversitech Corporation, Daikin Industries Ltd and Zhejiang Hailiang Co., Ltd. The major market players adopt growth strategies like new product launches, product updation, collaborations, and joint ventures, contributing to the growth of the global market.

Halcor

Overview: Halcor is the copper and copper alloys division of ElvalHalcor, a major metals processing company. It operates eight different foundries and plants in Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria. The company was spun off into a separate entity in 1976 and is headquartered in Athens, Greece. 

Product Portfolio

• Talos ACR is the company's HVAC line set for split air conditioning and heat pump systems with flared connections. The line set is made from copper, offering high durability and resistance to temperature fluctuations. PE-X foam is used for insulation.

Key Developments:

• In July 2021, Halcor purchased and completed the merger of FITCO Metal Works S.A., a major Greek metal processor, into its copper division. The merger will lead to a capacity increase for Halcor as it looks to expand into new markets.