Sloan Acquires Controlling Stake in Essel Bath Fittings India: Sloan, a plumbing systems manufacturer based in Illinois, has acquired a controlling stake in Essel Bath Fittings as part of its expansion strategy in India's bath fittings market. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction. Sloan stated that the investment supports its strategy in India by expanding its local manufacturing footprint and strengthening its presence through Essel Bath Fitt

Uzbekistan Imports 132,691 Air Conditioners in First Five Months of 2026 Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan imported 132,691 air conditioners valued at USD 19.7 million during the first five months of 2026, according to the National Statistics Committee. Import volumes increased by 13,700 units, or 11.5%, compared with the corresponding period of 2025. China remained the largest supplier, accounting for 128,021 imported units. Kazakhstan supplied 4,644 units, while Turkey exported 17 uni

EU Household Energy Consumption for Cooling Doubles Since 2018 Europe: Final household energy consumption for space cooling in the European Union reached 80.4 thousand terajoules (TJ) in 2024, doubling from 40.5 thousand TJ recorded in 2018. Energy use increased annually during the period, except for declines of 2.5% in 2020 and 1.9% in 2023. Italy recorded the highest total household energy consumption for cooling at 26.3 thousand TJ, followed by Spain with 14.3 thousand TJ

Brazil Approves Stage I of HFC Consumption Reduction Programme Brazil: Brazil's Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change has approved Stage I of the national Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Consumption Reduction Programme to support implementation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The programme targets refrigeration and air-conditioning applications and aims to reduce HFC consumption by 10% by 2029 and 12% by 2032 compared with the established baseline. The mini

DEFRA Delays Further Tightening of Great Britain HFC Phasedown United Kingdom: The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has confirmed that Great Britain's HFC phasedown schedule will remain unchanged from 1 January 2027 while further work is undertaken before a revised proposal is published later this year. Under the existing Great Britain F-Gas Regulation, the HFC quota will decrease from 31% to 24% of the baseline level from January 2027, representing a

Ariston Group Completes Acquisition of Riello Group Ariston Group, a global provider of sustainable climate and water comfort solutions, has completed the acquisition of 100% of Riello Group from subsidiaries of Carrier Global Corporation, following its announcement on 16 December 2025. The acquisition strengthens Ariston Group’s climate comfort portfolio by combining complementary technologies, brands, and market reach. The total consideration paid was approximately €370 mil

Air conditioner CHINA: China's air conditioner exports to the European Union increased by 43.2% year-on-year to US$3.76 billion in the first half of 2026, driven by an unprecedented heatwave across Europe and a significant gap between local production capacity and market demand. Chinese manufacturers, including Midea, Haier, Gree, Hisense, TCL, and Changhong, have expanded their presence in the region by offering energy-efficient and easy-to-install cooling solutions tailored

Store UK: VitrA has announced the launch of five new Experience Centres across the UK in 2026, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its retail footprint and strengthening partnerships with independent retailers. The first showroom, located at AS Fenner in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, opened on 29 June and showcases VitrA's comprehensive portfolio in lifestyle bathroom settings, allowing customers to experience its latest collections and design-led solutions firsthand. The r

Bathroom SPAIN: Ballingslöv International has acquired KBV, one of Spain’s leading manufacturers of kitchen, bathroom and storage solutions, from private equity firm ABAC. The acquisition supports Ballingslöv International’s strategy to expand its European footprint and reinforce its decentralized multi-brand platform. With annual revenues of approximately €55 million, KBV holds a strong position in the Spanish market and has an established international presence across the U

Hotel Vietnam has become Asia's largest branded residences market by value, overtaking Thailand and South Korea, according to the Asia Branded Residences Market Review 2026 by C9 Hotelworks. The country's branded residence sector is valued at approximately USD 8 billion, accounting for 20% of Asia's USD 40 billion branded residences market. Growth has been driven by a robust pipeline of 15,762 residential units across 47 projects, supported by strong tourism recovery, infrast

Why Air Conditioners Costs More in India Now - The BEE Effect Goes Beyond Raw Materials Revision of BEE Air-Conditioning Efficiency Standards Transforming India’s Air-Conditioning Industry The Indian air-conditioner industry is in the midst of one of the biggest transformations it has seen in years. While consumers are noticing higher air-conditioner prices in 2026, the reasons go well beyond the familiar story of rising copper or aluminium costs. AC prices have risen acros

US Trade School Enrolment and Revenue Rise as Demand for Skilled Trades Grows USA: A new report by Validated Insights shows that the US trade school sector expanded more rapidly than expected in 2025, driven by strong demand for skilled workers. Trade school revenue increased by 11.4% year-on-year to US$19.1 billion, supported by rising enrolment and continued employer investment in workforce training. Growing infrastructure projects, including AI and data centres, are also b