U.S. Heat Pumps Growth Enters New Phase Amid Changing Incentives and Market Forces The U.S. heat pump market has entered a new phase, shaped by the expiration of federal incentives, rising state-level support, and evolving consumer preferences. While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) played a pivotal role in accelerating adoption through its generous tax credits and rebate programs, the conclusion of those federal incentives has affected market dynamics. Growth remains suppor

Thailand's Rise as Global Export Powerhouse for Air Conditioners Thailand has emerged as ASEAN's leading air conditioner (AC) export powerhouse, producing around 21 million units in 2024 and ranking as the world's third-largest exporter after China and Mexico (marginally behind Mexico by value). Thailand’s export revenues hit approximately 7 billion USD in 2024, with over 19 million units shipped globally. Key production clusters thrive in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor

Southeast Asia's Smart Bathroom Market On The Move Southeast Asia is emerging as one of the fast-growing smart bathroom markets in Asia, fuelled by urbanisation, rising incomes and growing interest in health, hygiene, and connected living. Smart toilets, digital showers, and integrated mirrors are evolving from luxury items to aspirational mid-market products, intensifying competition among Japanese and European giants facing agile Chinese, Korean, and local ASEAN players. As

Heat Pump In 2025, the markets for gas wall hung boilers and outside air‑water heat pumps moved in noticeably different directions across the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Poland. Gas wall hung boilers declined in every country compared with 2024, continuing a clear downward tendency visible in all five markets.   In contrast, outside air‑water heat pumps showed a more varied yet overall more positive pattern. While France and Italy experienced a slight downturn

India’s Heat Pump Water Heater Market: An Emerging Efficiency Trend India’s water heating market is quietly entering a new phase, marked by the early but accelerating adoption of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs). Long dominated by electric “geysers” and supported by a niche solar segment, the market is beginning to pivot toward heat pump technology as energy efficiency shifts from a secondary consideration to a core purchasing criterion. Although HPWHs currently account for a

Why Solar Water Heating Struggles in India Despite Being a Proven Renewable Solution Solar water heating is one of the most energy-efficient renewable technologies available. A standard residential system can reduce electricity consumption for water heating by 70–80%, displacing roughly 1,500 kWh per year for a typical household. With system lifetimes exceeding 15–20 years, payback periods often fall within two to four years, even without subsidies.  From a technical standpoi

Air Conditioner Extended heatwaves across Southern Europe, particularly in Spain and Greece, continue to spike demand for air conditioning, transforming cooling from a luxury to a necessity. The trend persisted in 2025 amid record temperatures in the region. As per BRG estimates, while only about one-third of homes in Spain had air conditioning at the beginning of the last decade, the adoption has surged with continued growth (pandemic year of 2020 being the only exception) t

GST Cut Fails to Kickstart Indian AC Sales – Primary Market Stays Subdued The recent reduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the Indian AC market from 28% to 18% has provided price relief for consumers. However, primary sales, shipments from manufacturers to distributors, have yet to see the anticipated boost, with industry insiders citing high channel inventories and cautious dealer ordering as key factors.  Distributors Hold Back Amid High Inventories   Distributor

Air Conditioning Qatar’s climate is among the harshest in the world, with summer temperatures regularly rising above 45°C. In such conditions, air conditioning is not a luxury but a necessity. AC systems designed to operate efficiently and reliably at extreme ambient temperatures, often above 50°C, are therefore essential. Gulf nations use special performance ratings such as T3 at 46°C and T4 at 48°C for AC testing, and manufacturers build units to function continuously well

DIY The perception and adoption of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) practices differ significantly between Asian and Western countries, largely due to cultural, economic, and structural factors. In Europe for example, DIY is deeply rooted in a culture of self-sufficiency and home improvement, where consumers are motivated by creativity, cost-saving, and a strong tradition of hands-on maintenance. Retail infrastructure in Western markets also supports this behaviour through extensive DIY

After a few challenging years, the European ventilation market is finally seeing light at the end of the ductwork Ventilation manufacturers have faced better times. Following more than a decade of steady growth, demand for ventilation products in Europe peaked in 2022. Since then, sales have declined across most countries and product categories. Among the 23 European markets covered by the BRG Ventilation Programme 2025, only the UK, Ireland, Spain, Greece, France, and Belgiu

Why Window ACs Still Dominate in the Philippines: A Regional Perspective Across Southeast Asia, the transition from traditional window air conditioners to more efficient split-type systems have become increasingly evident. Countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam have seen rapid uptake of split-type air conditioners, supported by rising household incomes, modernising housing stock and strong policy emphasis on energy-efficient appliances. The Philippines, however, rem

The European bathroom market remained stable in 2024, declining marginally, navigating shifting consumer preferences, evolving housing dynamics, and broader economic pressures. Eastern Europe maintained a slight lead in overall activity, supported by consistent demand across core categories. Western Europe, while marginally behind in total installations, continues to set the pace for long-term growth, particularly in renovation-led upgrades.  Housing RMI remained the dominant

As temperatures continue to rise and rapid urbanisation reshapes the Middle East, cooling demands have become central to national planning in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. With both countries launching large-scale residential, commercial, and industrial developments under their long-term visions, cooling is now positioned at the crossroads of sustainability, energy security, and economic diversification. Within this evolving landscape, decentralised cooling systems are eme

India’s Air Conditioning Industry: From Import Dependence to a Self-Reliant Manufacturing Hub India's air conditioning industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Due to rising consumer demand and government initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Air Conditioning and Components and the Make in India campaign, companies are increasingly prioritizing local manufacturing and expanding their production capacity. India's AC market, once heavily relian

Local Manufacturing Reshapes Demand for Bathroom and Kitchen Products in Thailand Driving Growth and Reducing Import Dependence Thailand’s bathroom and kitchen products market is undergoing a structural transformation driven by the rapid growth of local manufacturing. The market relies on domestic producers that offer affordable, high-quality, and design-oriented products suited to Thai lifestyles and living conditions. Rising incomes, urbanization, and government initiatives

Growing Interest in Wellness Products Boosts India’s Bath Market In urban India, bathrooms are gradually evolving from purely functional spaces into personal wellness zones. While this transformation is still limited to a relatively small segment of the population, it reflects changing aspirations among affluent city dwellers. This shift has sparked a promising growth in wellness bathroom products, breathing new life into the baths market, which remained a slow mover for deca

Bathroom Over the past few years, a quiet but meaningful shift has taken place in the Balkans’ bathroom products industry. Once dominated by multinational brands and imports, the market is now witnessing the rise of local players who combine cost efficiency, design adaptability, and regional identity into compelling offerings.  Croatia: Local Expertise Meets Market Maturity In Croatia, the bathroom products market has evolved from one dependent on imports to one where domesti

Southeast Asia Transitioning to Low Global Warming Potential Refrigerants Over the past decade, Southeast Asia’s cooling industry has been undergoing a profound transformation. Once dominated by high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants such as R22 and R410A, the region is now steadily transitioning towards lower-GWP alternatives, led by R32 and other next-generation blends. This analysis focuses on the five major ASEAN markets, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia,

The Rise of Chinese Sanitaryware in East Africa Chinese sanitaryware has established a strong foothold in the East African market, particularly within the lower-income segment, while the premium category remains largely dominated by Western brands such as Ideal Standard, Duravit, and Roca. At first glance, China’s dominance appears to stem from its competitive pricing, which makes its products highly accessible to cost-conscious consumers. Yet the picture is far more nuanced.