Canada imposes retaliatory tariffs Canada: Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs on US imports worth C$27.6 billion (US$20 billion), effective September 8, 2026, escalating trade tensions between the two countries. Tariffs of 15%, 25% and 50% apply to products targeted by US Section 338 and Section 232 measures, with rates matched to the corresponding US duties. This includes some building and construction materials with 50% duties, such as floor coverings of plastics. On th

US HVAC Shipments Rise 20.1% Year-on-Year in July 2026 U.S.: US shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps reached 916,830 units in July 2026, down 10.43% from June but up 20.1% year-on-year. Central air-conditioner shipments increased 22.3% to 503,151 units, while air-source heat pump shipments rose 17.6% to 413,679 units. According to the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, year-to-date combined shipments increased 5.5% to 5,633,518 u

Samsung and LG Strengthen Electric HVAC and B2B Smart Home Presence South Korea/Saudi Arabia: Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are expanding their presence in electric HVAC and smart home markets, with Samsung showcasing its EHS All-in-One and EHS Heat Pump Boiler in South Korea and LG opening its first B2B-dedicated AI Home experience space in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Samsung’s EHS Heat Pump Boiler achieves a SCOP of 4.9, provides heating at temperatures as low as -25°C a

Beijer Ref to Acquire 75% Stake in Greek HVAC Distributor FG Europe Greece: Beijer Ref has signed a binding agreement to acquire 75% of the shares in FG Europe, a Greece-based HVAC distributor founded in 1958 and headquartered in Athens, with an option to acquire the remaining shares. FG Europe has an annual turnover of approximately SEK 1.4 billion (approximately USD 148 million) and an established presence across the Balkans, the UK, Ireland and Turkey, serving residential

EU Investigates Possible Early Completion of XXXLutz’s Porta Takeover Germany: The European Commission announced in July 2026 that it intends to investigate a possible violation of EU law concerning XXXLutz’s takeover of Porta, with the acquisition remaining subject to European Commission merger-control approval. XXXLutz said the notification followed an extensive pre-notification process involving the preparation and review of significant data and information; the Commission

Clivet Starts Production at New EURO 24 Million Heat Pump Plant in Italy Italy: Clivet has started production at its new 14,000-sq-m facility in Feltre, Belluno, Italy, following a total investment of EURO 24 million (USD 28.1 million) to meet growing international demand for heat pumps and high-efficiency air-conditioning solutions. The plant focuses on commercial heat pumps and natural refrigerants, producing the SHEEN, THUNDER (R290), STORM, SHEEN 130 kW and Modular HP ran

Kyungdong Navien Broadens Heat Pump Portfolio with New Air-Source Water Heater South Korea: Kyungdong Navien has introduced a new air-source water heater in South Korea, combining heat pump technology with an electric heater to provide stable hot water supply while improving energy efficiency. Tests of a North American model with the same specifications recorded around 60% higher cumulative hot water supply over four hours and more than four times higher energy efficiency tha

China’s Midea Hits 3 Million Units in Indonesia, Boosts Global Export Hub Indonesia: Midea Electronics reached cumulative production of 3 million units in Indonesia and inaugurated its expanded Residential AC plant in Cikarang, West Java, on September 9, 2026. The company has produced 2.25 million AC units (75.0%), 1 million refrigerators and 367,500 washing machines, while the Cikarang AC facility covers 51,405 sq m and is planned to expand its operational area by 230%, from

Ukraine: Cersanit ceramic tile production facility in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine was seriously damaged by Russian jet-powered drones overnight on September 12, 2026, forcing production to halt. All employees at the plant were safely evacuated, with no fatalities reported, while key elements of the ceramic tile production cycle were damaged, making the resumption and further operation of the facility currently impossible. Cersanit is conducting a detailed assessment of the

Wilcon Depot Opens First Legazpi City Branch in Albay Philippines: Wilcon Depot opened its first branch in Legazpi City, Albay, expanding access to building materials, tiles, sanitaryware, plumbing, electrical supplies, tools, hardware, furniture, appliances and other home improvement products. The expansion supports the city’s ongoing residential, commercial and infrastructure development and provides services including Browse, Call, Collect/Deliver and a 3D Design Hub. The

How Economic Pressure Is Affecting Building Products Prices in Egypt Over the past three years, Egypt’s building-products industry has been affected by a weakening currency, followed by a gradual stabilisation. This has resulted in a continuous recalculation of costs for both manufacturers and consumers in the bathroom, kitchen, and HVAC categories, from imported compressors and copper to industrial gas used in ceramic firing. The products that rely most largely on imported p

Shift To Lead-Free Materials Reshapes Plumbing Component Design Global: The transition to lead-free materials in plumbing components is progressing across the industry, supported by regulatory changes and increased focus on water quality. Manufacturers are adopting engineered polymers in applications such as faucet mixing valves, where components are required to operate under conditions including high temperatures, pressure variation and continuous exposure to water. These ma