SANHA GmbH & Co. KG Reports Modest Revenue Growth and Strong Margins in 2025 GERMANY: SANHA GmbH & Co. KG recorded a slight revenue increase of around 1% to US$ 146.9 million (€124.9 million) in 2025, supported by strong performance in refrigeration, industrial applications, and growth across Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the United States. However, domestic demand in Germany remained weak due to low construction activity, despite some improvement. Profitability remained s

TOTO Japan: TOTO announced that it will gradually resume accepting new orders for its unit bath products starting April 20, 2026, following improved visibility in raw material procurement. The company had previously restricted orders due to supply uncertainties, but recent developments have allowed it to better assess material availability and restart operations in a phased manner. The decision reflects easing supply constraints in key inputs used for bathroom products. Howev

Norcros UK: Norcros plc expects reported revenue to grow by approximately 10% to around GBP 393 million (about USD 490-495 million) for the financial year ending April 2026, compared to GBP 355.8 million (around USD 440-445 million) in the previous year. This growth is primarily supported by the acquisition of Fibo and market share gains, while like for like revenue growth remains limited at around 0.5%, reflecting subdued underlying demand. New build activity continues to re

Morbi Ceramic industry India: There are around 142 ceramic units in Morbi, Gujarat, that are currently operational following disruptions caused by global energy supply constraints. The sector was significantly impacted by volatility in liquefied natural gas supply linked to geopolitical tensions, which led to rising fuel costs and forced several units to suspend operations from mid-March. Prior to the disruption, about 377 units were using piped natural gas, while nearly 415

RAK Ceramics Maintains Operations and Pricing Amid Regional Conditions UAE: RAK Ceramics has stated that it will continue operations across the United Arab Emirates and the wider region without disruption, maintaining access across its retail and project channels. The company indicated that it will not increase prices despite ongoing geopolitical conditions, with a focus on maintaining product availability and service continuity for customers, partners and stakeholders. The c

Clas Ohlson Reports 11% Increase in Turnover SWITZERLAND: Clas Ohlson reported an 11% year-on-year increase in turnover for March 2026, reaching SEK 902 million (US$83.1 million). The Swedish home improvement retailer said 8% of the growth came from organic sales, while acquisitions contributed 2%, with no material currency impact. For the period from May 2025 to March 2026, total revenue rose 7% to SEK 11.6 billion (US$1.07 billion). Organic growth contributed 9%, acquisitio

Nero Tapware Secures Exclusive Australian Distribution Rights for American Standard Bathroom Solutions AUSTRALIA: Nero Tapware has been appointed the exclusive Australian distributor for American Standard, expanding its presence beyond tapware and bathroom accessories into broader bathroom solutions. The partnership strengthens Nero’s product offering in the Australian market by adding a globally recognized brand with more than 150 years of heritage in bathroom innovation and

New Ceramic Plant Set to Strengthen Ethiopia’s Domestic Production ETHOPIA: A new ceramic manufacturing plant in Ethiopia is set to begin production within three weeks, marking a significant boost to the country’s domestic building materials sector. Built by Baijia Ceramic Manufacturing in Tulefa, about 65 km from Addis Ababa, the facility was developed with an investment of US$50 million and spans 30 hectares. The factory is expected to produce between 35,000 and 50,000 squa

PT Aspirasi Hidup Indonesia Tbk Accelerates Expansion and Diversifies Portfolio in 2025 INDONESIA: PT Aspirasi Hidup Indonesia Tbk strengthened its retail footprint and diversified its business portfolio in 2025, marking a key year in its transformation strategy. The company opened 27 new AZKO stores, expanding into 15 new regions including eastern Indonesia, bringing its total network to 265 stores across 90 cities. It also launched a new affordable home and lifestyle brand,

Energy Star Program USA: The U.S. Department of Energy is set to take over the Energy Star program, a move that could reshape its funding structure and better align its rating tiers with other federal standards. As of March 3, the program has been transferred from the Environmental Protection Agency under a memorandum of agreement, designating the DOE as the lead agency. The agreement states that all Energy Star-related activities—including partnership agreements, trademarks,

Raw material USA: Donald Trump has issued an executive proclamation revising how Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminium, and copper are calculated. However, according to Stan Kolbe of the Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), the change offers limited relief for contractors already facing rising material costs, particularly for aluminium and specialty steel. Kolbe noted that while the revised tariff structure may alter calculation methods

Home Depot USA: The Home Depot is set to expand its presence across the U.S. in 2026 with the addition of 12 new stores, covering more than 1.6 million square feet of retail space across eight states. Texas will see the highest number of openings with four stores, followed by Florida with two, while Arizona, Arkansas, California, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah will each host new locations. Despite a broader trend of retailers reducing physical store networks, the company is st

HVAC USA: Lowe's has launched a new “associate-powered” annual subscription service, HomeCare+, for members of its MyLowe’s Rewards program. Priced at $99 per year, the offering provides seven in-home maintenance services designed to help homeowners manage routine upkeep more easily. The company stated that the program will be accessible to over 75% of households across the U.S. The subscription includes two in-home visits annually, during which local store associates can per

Bed Bath & Beyond USA: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., the parent company of Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, buybuy BABY, and Kirkland’s, has signed a letter of intent to acquire the equity interests and most assets of F9 Brands Inc. The transaction is valued at approximately $150 million, comprising $37 million in cash and around 16 million shares of BBBY stock priced at $7.00 per share, reflecting a current value of about $107 million. F9 Brands owns and operates businesses including

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances USA: (PFAS) are becoming an increasing concern for homeowners and building owners, as these chemicals do not easily break down in the environment. With improved testing methods, PFAS are now being detected more frequently and at lower concentrations in water systems, raising both awareness and concern. What was once largely overlooked is now a key issue for many. Regulatory developments are accelerating this shift. The Environmental Protect

Home Improvement USA: As pricing pressures continue to influence the home improvement market, a growing number of U.S. homeowners are considering product origin in their purchasing decisions. According to new data from the Home Improvement Research Institute, nearly one in three homeowners takes into account whether a product is made in the U.S. when buying home improvement materials, tools, and products—highlighting domestic manufacturing as a key differentiator for a signif

Home Depot USA: The Home Depot has introduced more than a dozen AI-driven capabilities, with several additional solutions currently in development. According to CIO Angie Brown, the focus is not just on adding new features but on enhancing convenience and improving both customer and associate experiences. These innovations complement Pro-focused tools such as blueprint takeoffs, real-time delivery tracking for large orders, and materials list builders. Behind the scenes, the

Partners with PHG UK: Flair Showers has entered into a partnership with Plumbing Heating Group (PHG), a merchant buying group in the United Kingdom, to expand the availability of its shower solutions. Under the agreement, PHG members will be able to supply a range of products including shower enclosures, bathscreens and wetrooms from the Flair PRO and Harmony collections. PHG operates 308 branches across the country, including bathroom showrooms and plumbing and heating trade

Bauhaus Expands Ship-from-Store Model in Nordic E-commerce Nordic Region (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden): Bauhaus has partnered with logistics service provider nShift to expand its ship-from-store model for e-commerce operations across the Nordic countries. The initiative follows a pilot programme in which approximately 200,000 orders were processed using the system. The company expects around 750,000 online orders to be handled through the platform by 2026. Under this mod

Sloan Acquires Stake in Essel Bath Fittings to Expand India Presence India/USA: Sloan, a United States-based plumbing systems manufacturer, has acquired a controlling stake in Essel Bath Fittings to expand its presence in the Indian bath fittings market. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The partnership aims to utilise Essel’s manufacturing capabilities and distribution network to address demand in both premium and mid-segment categories. Essel will con