TCT Monthly | May 2026 – Commercial Freezer & Refrigerator
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
Editor’s Note：
In May 2026, the global commercial refrigeration industry focused mainly on two major trade shows in North America and Asia, along with developments in low-GWP refrigerants, promotion of natural refrigerants, and digital operation and maintenance services.
At the National Restaurant Association Show (NRA Show) in Chicago, USA – a premier global event for the foodservice and retail industry – and HOTELEX Guangzhou in China – a leading hospitality and foodservice equipment exhibition in South China – major international players such as Hussmann, Carrier, True Manufacturing, and Epta showcased their latest products and solutions in commercial retail, foodservice, and cold chain. Meanwhile, A2L refrigerants, R290 natural refrigerant, and digital management platforms continued to be key technology trends.
On the raw materials front, copper and aluminum ingot prices fluctuated, while the RMB continued to appreciateagainst the USD. Details below.
Section 1: Key Raw Material Prices & Exchange Rate Tracking
I. Core Raw Material Prices for Freezers
Month-over-month changes (vs. April):
Electrolytic copper: 102,700 RMB/ton in early May, remaining at high levels.
A00 aluminum ingot: 24,300 RMB/ton in early May, down about 1.6% from late April.
304 stainless steel: around 14,700 RMB/ton at end of May, down from mid-May highs.
Galvanized sheet: average price of 4,018 RMB/ton in May, up about 1.4% from March average of 3,963 RMB/ton.
PVC: South China electric furnace method Type V material at 4,850 – 4,960 RMB/ton at end of May, down from around 5,100 RMB/ton in late April.
II. RMB to USD Exchange Rate
In May 2026, the RMB continued to appreciate against
the USD, with the central parity rate steadily declining from
the beginning of the month.
Authorized by the People's Bank of China, the China
Foreign Exchange Trade System announced that on May 8,
the central parity rate of the RMB against the USD was 6.8502
yuan to 1 USD. Source: China Foreign Exchange Trade System
（https://finance.sina.com.cn/jjxw/2026-05-08/doc-inhx
cust4373647.shtml）
Authorized by the People's Bank of China, the China
Foreign Exchange Trade System announced that on May 25,
the central parity rate of the RMB against the USD was 6.8318
yuan to 1 USD, up 55 basis points. Source: People's Bank of
China
（https://www.pbc.gov.cn/zhengcehuobisi/125207/1252
17/125925/2026052509124952739/index.html）
Authorized by the People's Bank of China, the China
Foreign Exchange Trade System announced that on May 28,
the central parity rate of the RMB against the USD was 6.8240
yuan to 1 USD, up 51 basis points. Source: People's Bank of
China
（https://wuhan.pbc.gov.cn/zhengcehuobisi/125207/12
5217/125925/2026052809122787463/index.html）
Section 2: Global Exhibition Spotlight
HOTELEX Guangzhou 2026
May 11–13
Guangzhou，China Import and
Export Fair Complex, Area D
HOTELEX Guangzhou focuses
on the hotel, catering, retail, and commercial space sectors, covering
commercial refrigeration
equipment, kitchen equipment,
beverage equipment, and digital
solutions.
As one of the major hospitality
and foodservice equipment
exhibitions in South China,
HOTELEX Guangzhou continues to
attract equipment manufacturers,
distributors, and end users to
participate and exchange ideas.
NRA Show 2026
May 16–19
McCormick Place, Chicago, USA
The National Restaurant
Association Show (NRA Show) is a
key industry event for North
American foodservice and food
retail. It covers catering equipment,
commercial refrigeration, food
processing, digital management,
and supply chain services.
During this year’s show,
companies including Hussmann,
Carrier Commercial Refrigeration,
and True Manufacturing showcased
their commercial refrigeration
solutions for the foodservice and
retail market.
Section 3: International Company News & Product Technology
【International Company News】
Hussmann: Launches A2L refrigerant product line
On April 30, Hussmann (a Panasonic company) announced that it is expanding its product line to include A2L (mildly flammable) refrigerant systems and display cases, covering display cases, walk-in coolers, and condensing units. The A2L solutions are part of the Evolve Technologies low-GWP product portfolio, running alongside existing R290 and CO2 solutions.[HVAC Insider] · [Refrigerated & Frozen Food] · [Hussmann]
Hillphoenix: Advancing water-cooled R290 display cases
On May 12, Hillphoenix (a Dover Food Retail company) announced progress on water-cooled R290 (propane) display cases as an extension of its SoloChill micro-distributed product line, with expected availability in the second half of the year, targeting North America ’ s natural refrigerant needs.[Natural Refrigerants]
Epta: Launches MyEpta digital operation and maintenance platform
During EuroShop 2026 ((February 22-26,Düsseldorf), Epta launched the
MyEpta digital operations platform, integrating IoT sensors, cloud data
analytics, and remote monitoring, offering energy efficiency optimization
and predictive maintenance services for retail customers. [Epta International]
Epta UK simultaneously released energy-saving solutions for the convenience store retail market.[Epta Official Website]
Carrier: Exhibits at NRA Show
Carrier Commercial Refrigeration exhibited at NRA Show 2026, showcasing its commercial refrigeration portfolio, including CO2 transcritical systems. [Carrier]
True Refrigeration: Exhibits at NRA Show
True Manufacturing exhibited at NRA Show 2026 (Booth #3231), featuring its commercial refrigerators, freezers, and glass-door display cases.[True MFG] · [NRI]
【Product & Technology Highlights】
A2L eco-friendly refrigerants going commercial: Hussmann launched a full
range of A2L commercial refrigeration products with significantly lower GWP than traditional HFC refrigerants.
Natural refrigerants evolving: Hillphoenix plans to launch water-cooled R290 display cases in the second half of 2026, expanding its natural refrigerant portfolio.
Digital operations platform: Epta ’ s MyEpta enables full lifecycle management of equipment, providing retailers with one-stop technical data and service resources.
Section 4: Tariffs & Compliance Updates
【Policy & Energy Efficiency】
China: New national energy efficiency standard for commercial refrigeration equipment takes effect
GB26920-2024 "Energy efficiency limits and energy efficiency grades for commercial refrigeration equipment" took effect on April 1, 2026. It stipulates the energy efficiency limits, grades, and testing methods for commercial refrigeration equipment.[National Standard Information Public Service Platform] · [National Development and Reform Commission(NDRC)]
EU: CBAM official phase begins and expansion proposal
EU: CBAM official phase begins and expansion proposal Starting in 2026, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism(CBAM) enters its official phase, requiring importers to purchase CBAM certificates, initially covering cement, steel, aluminum, fertilizers, electricity, and hydrogen. On December 17, 2025, the European Commission proposed an expansion to include approximately 180 downstream steel and aluminum-intensive products from January 1, 2028, with refrigeration equipment listed. The proposal requires approval by the European Parliament and Council.[EuropeanCommission] · [Mayer Brown] · [Tianjin Emissions Exchange]
【Tariff Updates】
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