Professional Organizations React to Possible Exclusion of Hybrid Heat Pumps from 5.5% VAT France: Professional organizations are voicing concerns after the latest Official Bulletin of Public Finances (BOFIP) suggested that hybrid heat pumps could be excluded from the reduced 5.5% VAT rate. Stanislas Lacroix, president of Uniclima, called the measure “a contradictory political signal that presents major legal risks,” citing its incompatibility with Article 30-0 D ter of the Fr

Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions Opens CENTRE of EXCELLENCE in Europe to Boost HVACR Training Czech Republic/Italy: Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions has launched its new European flagship training facility, the CENTRE of EXCELLENCE, at its Aquarea heat pump site in Pilsen, Czech Republic, offering 300 m² of classrooms, work bays, and a full showcase of Aquarea air-to-water heat pumps. The centre provides accredited training, remote learning, and project support to e

Huida Sanitary Ware CHINA: Huida Sanitary Ware reported its 2025 three-quarter results, with revenue/net profit/net profit attributable to non-controlling interests reaching 2.21 billion yuan (~US$ 311.3 million) / 0.015 billion yuan (~US$ 2.1 million) / -0.047 billion yuan (~US$ 6.6 million loss) for the first nine months, reflecting year-on-year declines driven by weakened terminal demand. In 2025 Q3, revenue and net profit after deducting non-recurring items stood at 0.785

Coram Group ITALY: Coram Group has appointed Patricia Slootjes as its new CEO, succeeding Bert Speijers after his distinguished three-decade tenure with the company. With more than twenty years of commercial leadership experience, Slootjes joins Coram from Miele, where she held several senior management positions over the past eight years. Under Slootjes’ leadership, Coram plans to further its investments in design, innovation and sustainability to advance the bathroom indust

Indonesia INDONESIA: Indonesia is on track to become the world’s fourth largest ceramic producer, driven by strong sectoral growth, rising investment and supportive industrial policies, according to the Ministry of Industry. "We are optimistic that Indonesia, with strong investments and well-targeted policies, will break into the global top four in the near future," said Taufiek Bawazier, the ministry's Director General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Textile Industries. Ind

Refrigerant SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa’s HVAC-R sector is preparing for a major shift as the country reduces its R22 import quota to 2.5% of current consumption starting in 2026, a move aligned with commitments under the Montreal Protocol. According to SARACCA Executive Director David Botha, the reduced limit means only 80 to 100 tons of R22 will enter the market for servicing and repair. “This reduction is intended to minimise the environmental impact of R22, which is known

Greece GREECE: Greece has released the first definitive list of more than 100,000 approved beneficiaries under the “Heating System and Water Heater Upgrade Program,” a €645,000,000 (~US$ 745.5 million) initiative aimed at improving home energy efficiency nationwide. Over 5,000 vulnerable households are included, reflecting the program’s strong social focus and its goal of reducing energy costs through the replacement of old heating systems and the installation of modern solar

Somany Ceramics INDIA: Somany Ceramics Limited reported consolidated revenue of ₹681.00 crores (~US$ 76.8 million) for Q2 FY2026, reflecting a 2.9% year-on-year increase, while net profit declined to ₹15.00 crores (~US$ 1.7 million) from ₹17.00 crores in the previous year. Operational performance included tiles sales volume of 17.80 million m² and strong capacity utilization rates of 75% in tiles and 74% in sanitaryware. The Board approved a draft scheme for merger of three w

UK Tile Companies Enter Administration UNITED KINGDOM: Ceramique Internationale, along with Rowmarl Ltd, Spectrum Tiles and Euxton Tile Supplies, has entered administration, resulting in 59 redundancies. The companies, owned by Full Circle Group and Earle Group, appointed administrators on 27 October following severe financial difficulties, with operations having ceased on 24 October. Joint administrators Matthew Haw and Christopher Ratten of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory co

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

The Indonesian Economic Growth Slows Slightly in Third Quarter Indonesia: The Indonesian economy expanded by 5.04% year-on-year in the third quarter, down from 5.12% in the previous quarter, according to official data released on Wednesday. The moderation in growth poses a challenge for the government, which aims to achieve an annual target of 5.2% and gradually raise it to 8% by 2029. The slowdown coincided with anti-government protests and disruptions in key sectors, includ

Philippine Economic Growth Slows Amid Corruption Scandal and Weak Investment Philippines: The Philippine economy expanded by 4% year-on-year in the third quarter, falling short of market expectations of 5.2% and the 5.5% growth recorded in the previous quarter, according to the National Statistics Agency. The slowdown has been linked to an ongoing corruption scandal involving government infrastructure projects, which has affected investor and consumer confidence. Economic Pla