The refrigerant R-22's price is increasing because it has become so popular, yet new production facilities aren't planned to meet the growing need.
At a recent industry meeting a representative of National Refrigerants, an HCFC importer, startled the crowd by predicting that R-22 would be in short supply about four years from now. The reason for this, according to the report I read, is because after the phaseout of CFC-12, HCFC-22 became the refrigerant of choice in the commercial refrigeration field for use in refrigerant blends, and in the plastics manufacturing business.
Now, that's OK, except that manufacturers of the product, such as DuPont, ICI, AlliedSignal and the rest, have decided not to expand production facilities to meet the growing needs since R-22 is scheduled to begin its phaseout in 15 years or less. This refrigerant, which is the primary one used in the light commercial and residential air-conditioning business, isn't supposed to come into short supply due to government regulations, but because demand will outstrip production.