Thailand's Air Conditioner Export Boom 2026 — How to Choose the Right Refrigerant Grade Under the Law

Air conditioners are one of Thailand's star export products, and in 2026 the industry is growing especially fast. This does not affect only AC assembly plants — it sends a ripple straight into the domestic refrigerant market: installers, service work, factory cold rooms, and purchasers alike.

This article summarizes the latest export figures, explains why refrigerant demand is rising, and — most importantly — shows how to choose the right refrigerant grade under international law, because choosing the wrong grade today can mean being unable to sell or export tomorrow.

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How Fast Are Thailand's AC Exports Growing in 2026?

Thailand ranks 2nd-3rd in the world for air-conditioner and parts exports (after China and Mexico), producing around 21 million units per year. In 2026 the figures have accelerated further on the European heatwave:

Period (2026)	Value / Growth
AC + parts exports, first 2 months	~US$1,423 million (+11% YoY)
Exports to Europe, May	US$130.1 million (+41.3%)
Cumulative first 5 months to EU	US$696.8 million (+16.5%)
Germany market (Jan–May)	+37.2%
France market (Jan–May)	+13.9%

Thailand has even overtaken China as the top AC exporter into the US at certain points, showing the Thai production base is genuinely expanding — not just a temporary spike.

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Why Refrigerant Demand Rises With It

More AC production and installation means more refrigerant demand across the whole chain:

flowchart LR
  A[AC exports up
+11% to +41%] --> B[Assembly plants
charge refrigerant in production]
  A --> C[Domestic market grows
install / replace units]
  B --> D[Refrigerant demand rises]
  C --> D
  D --> E[Service / top-up / repair
technicians + factory cold rooms]
  E --> F[Buyers must source
right grade, legal, with SDS]

The point operators often miss: volume is not the problem — choosing a legally compliant grade is the risk, because international rules are steadily squeezing out the old grades.

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The Key: Two Layers of Rules That Decide Which Grade You Can Use

1. Kigali Amendment — Global HFC Reduction (directly affects Thailand)

Thailand is a party to the Montreal Protocol and has signed the Kigali Amendment, which mandates reducing high-GWP HFCs. Thailand is in Group A5 (developing countries): freeze in 2024 → reduce 10% in 2029 → reduce 30% in 2035. The result: R-410A (GWP 2,088) is phased down before R-32 (GWP 675), so their prices tend to diverge over the long term.

2. EU F-gas Regulation — a Wall for Exports

This is the part that ties directly to the export news: the EU's new F-gas Regulation (EU 2024/573) bans imports of small split air conditioners using refrigerants with GWP ≥ 750 from 1 Jan 2025, tightening to GWP ≥ 150 from 1 Jan 2027.

That means Thai air conditioners bound for Europe must use low-GWP grades such as R-32 or R-454B only — R-410A can no longer be shipped. This is exactly why Thai AC plants are rushing to convert production lines to R-32, pushing domestic demand for the new grades even higher.

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Refrigerant Grade Comparison You Need in 2026

Property	R-410A	R-32	R-454B
Composition	R32/R125 blend (50/50)	CH₂F₂ (100% pure)	R32/R1234yf blend
GWP	2,088	675	466
Safety class (ASHRAE 34)	A1 (non-flammable)	A2L (mildly flammable)	A2L (mildly flammable)
ODP (ozone depletion)	0	0	0
EU-exportable (after 2027)	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Future after Kigali	Phased down first	Continues mainstream	Long-term option
Used with	Older–current machines	Almost all new brands	New low-GWP machines

Selection summary:

• New machines / EU-bound exports → choose R-32 or R-454B, safe under both Kigali and EU F-gas
• Existing R-410A systems → keep topping up with R-410A. Never swap grades across types — system pressures and compressor oils differ and mixing will damage the system
• Do not charge R-32 into an R-410A machine or vice versa — for by-system selection see Refrigerant Selection by System (Contractor Guide), and for 2026 R-32/R-410A pricing see the Thailand refrigerant price guide

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Hazardous-Substance License — What Buyers Must Check First

HFC-type refrigerants are classified as Type 3 hazardous substances under the Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535. Suppliers must hold a license from the Department of Industrial Works (DIW). Before buying, ask the supplier:

1. Do they hold a hazardous-substance business license (บอ.1 / HM License)?
2. Does the product come with a complete Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — all 16 sections per GHS?
3. Do the cylinders carry complete UN Number labels and Hazard Diamonds?

Buying from an unlicensed supplier is not only illegal but also risks counterfeit or contaminated refrigerant that can damage the AC system.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does the AC export boom relate to AC technicians in Thailand? A: More production and installation lifts refrigerant demand across the whole chain — charging during production, installation, and service/top-up/repair. Technicians and factories get more work, but must choose grades that comply with the changing rules.

Q: Why can't EU-bound machines use R-410A anymore? A: The EU F-gas Regulation bans small split ACs using refrigerants with GWP ≥ 750 from 2025, and ≥ 150 from 2027. R-410A's GWP is 2,088 — over the ceiling — so it must be replaced with R-32 (675) or R-454B (466).

Q: What's the difference between R-32 and R-454B, and which should I choose? A: Both are A2L (mildly flammable) and pass the EU thresholds. R-32 is a pure single substance, cheaper, and supported by most machines. R-454B has a lower GWP and suits new low-GWP machines designed specifically for it. Choose per the machine manufacturer's specification.

Q: Can you still buy R-410A in Thailand? A: Yes, for maintaining existing systems, but Kigali steadily cuts the quota — stock is declining and prices trend upward. We recommend planning a switch to R-32 machines at the next replacement cycle.

Q: What documents are needed to order refrigerant under a company name? A: A Purchase Order (PO) specifying type and quantity, a copy of the company certificate, and the name of the responsible engineer/safety officer. A legal supplier must issue a VAT tax invoice (ภพ.30) every time.

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Order and Request a Price

Sahawatthanakit (1988) Co., Ltd. distributes refrigerant across all grades, complete with tax invoices and full SDS, plus an engineering team to advise on choosing grades compliant with Kigali and the EU F-gas Regulation.

• Phone: 02-096-2118 (office) / 081-866-8368 (Khun Navin) / 061-541-6939 (Khun Chin)
• Email: info@sahawatthanakit1988.com
• LINE: @406rrgvm
• Web: sahawatthanakit1988.com
• Monday–Saturday 08:30–17:30 | Nationwide delivery

Receive a quotation within 24 hours — provide the refrigerant type, quantity, and delivery location.