Home Electrification US: Federal tax credits for residential solar panels, batteries and heat pumps expired at the end of 2025, removing incentives that previously saved homeowners significant amounts and making home electrification more expensive from 2026. The lapse of the 30% tax credit does not raise equipment prices directly but ends the ability for homeowners with tax liabilities to offset their taxes, with a typical solar and battery system previously generating credit

Showroom UK: Kitchen and bedroom retailer Wren has maintained its growth momentum, launching seven new showrooms in the final two months of 2025 and taking its total number of openings for the year to ten. New locations were unveiled in Salisbury, Barnstaple and Stafford in November, followed by three additional showrooms in December, including a Yeovil branch that opened on Boxing Day.  The company said the continued showroom rollout underscores its long-term commitment to n

Applications FRANCE: With no budget approved, the MaPrimeRénov’ application window will be suspended nationwide from January 1, 2026, Vincent Jeanbrun has announced. The Minister of Housing confirmed that, in the absence of a parliamentary budget, the State is unable to commit to any new spending. This suspension further prolongs uncertainty around the scheme and adds to the concerns of an already strained sector.  The construction industry is therefore starting the year unde

Acquisition FRANCE: In a press release issued on December 19, 2025, Decotec announced the acquisition of Atelier du Bain, a French manufacturer of shower doors and screens that had been placed into receivership earlier in the autumn.  Formerly known as Atmo (Ateliers de la Motte), Atelier du Bain is recognised as the inventor of the swivel and lift-up bath screen, designed to fold against the wall above the taps when installed on the short side of a bathtub. In 2022, the busi

Industrial Park at Morbi, India India: Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has launched a new Integrated Ceramic Industrial Park at Jambudiya-Paneli in the Morbi-Rajkot region of India, spanning over 1,000 acres. The project is designed to transform the area into a world-class industrial zone for the tile and ceramic sector, enhancing the industry’s presence across the value chain with focus areas including tiles, sanitaryware and advanced ceramics. The park lev

European Gas Prices Europe: European natural gas markets saw a notable decline in prices toward the end of December 2025, with futures for natural gas dropping to around 50 Euro/MWh after the highs of late 2024, indicating easing cost trends on the continent. Despite this downward movement, demand pressures linked to colder weather forecasts kept market attention high, as climatic conditions remain a key factor influencing consumption and stock levels across Europe. In Italy,

Star label India: The government has made energy efficiency star labelling mandatory for a wider range of appliances from January 1, 2026, according to a gazette notification issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. The revised regulation will cover refrigerators, televisions, LPG gas stoves, cooling towers and chillers and will also apply to deep freezers, distribution transformers and grid connected solar inverters. Earlier, star labelling for several of these products, i

Subsidy Policies for Home Appliances China: China has released detailed policies for its 2026 home appliance trade in subsidy program, along with incentives for the purchase of selected digital and smart products, as part of efforts to boost domestic consumption. According to a notice jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and other government departments, individual consumers purchasing energy and water efficient household appliances will be eligible for subsidies of up

BEE Star Rating India: Revised star rating norms issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency are expected to push up the prices of cooling appliances such as room air conditioners and refrigerators from January 1, 2026. Under the updated system, the new 5-star air conditioner is designed to be about 10% more energy efficient but may cost around 10% more, while refrigerator prices could rise by around 5%. The price increases are likely to nearly offset the benefit consumers rece

Anti dumping duties India: India has imposed anti dumping duties on two Chinese products, cold rolled non oriented electrical steel and 1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane or R 134a, after finding that these goods were exported to India at below normal prices. According to a notification issued by the finance ministry, anti dumping duty on certain Chinese steel producers has been set at US$ 223.82 per tonne, while a higher duty of US$ 415 per tonne has been imposed on other firms for a

Blue Star Flags Early Recovery in AC Demand, Eyes Stronger Outlook for 2026  INDIA: Blue Star is beginning to see early signs of recovery in air-conditioner sales after what its management described as a difficult year for the cooling industry. Managing Director B Thiagarajan said demand in the second half is improving, though it will not fully compensate for the sharp summer slowdown. “Second half is likely to be better than the first half, but it is not going to make up for

Bharti Enterprises and Warburg Pincus to Acquire 49% Stake in Haier India INDIA: Bharti Enterprises together with private equity firm Warburg Pincus, has announced a strategic investment in Haier India, a subsidiary of Haier Group. Upon completion of the transaction, Bharti Enterprises and Warburg Pincus will jointly hold a 49% stake in Haier India, while Haier Group will retain an equal 49% share. The remaining 2% equity will be owned by Haier India’s management team. In a s