Production, Sales and Atmospheric Release of Fluorocarbons

3,32

MB

through 2003

90

stron

2650

ID

United Nations Environment Programme

2006

rok

Summary

Since 1976, the chemical industry has voluntarily reported the production and sales of

fluorocarbons through a survey compiled by an independent accountant, Grant Thornton LLP. The

main purpose of the survey is to provide the scientific community with data estimating atmospheric

release of CFCs and the alternative fluorocarbons. Data are available through 2003 for CFCs 11,

12, 113, 114 and 115; HCFCs 22, 124, 141b and 142b; and HFCs 134a, 125 and 143a.

Production of CFCs by companies reporting to AFEAS has continued to diminish in both absolute

and relative terms and the AFEAS data now capture only 16% of the global total estimated from the

database maintained by UNEP (which is compiled from reports by all Parties to the Montreal

Protocol). It could be misleading to extrapolate sales and emissions of CFCs from such a small

fraction of the global emissions and so, from now on, categorized sales and emissions of CFCs will

not feature in the AFEAS report.

The total production of all CFCs reported to AFEAS in 2003 is less than 2% of that in the peak

year, 1988, and is now down to the level of the late 1940s. As shown in the graph below, the

alternatives initially grew rapidly after their introduction to replace CFCs but now have varied growth

rates, with most leveling off as they become more mature products. Production of HCFCs

reported to AFEAS has fallen significantly since 1996.