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

Thailand Records 7% Decline in Foreign Tourist Arrivals Thailand: Thailand recorded 26.89 million foreign tourist arrivals between 1 January and 2 November, marking a 7.22% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Tourism Ministry. Malaysia remained the top source of visitors with 3.88 million arrivals, followed by China with 3.8 million. The Finance Ministry recently revised its forecast for total foreign tourist arrivals in 2025 to 3

Naked Energy Expands Operations into Spain and Portugal Britain: British solar technology company Naked Energy has announced its expansion into Spain and Portugal as part of its broader international growth strategy. The company has appointed Luis Guajardo, an industrial engineer with over 15 years of experience in the water, industrial, and energy sectors, as Head of Business Development for Iberia. Naked Energy’s patented Virtu range includes the VirtuHOT, which generates c

Bulgarian HVAC Sector Faces Stagnation Amid Delay in F-Gas Regulation Implementation Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Association for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (BAOVK) has warned that the country’s HVAC sector is experiencing stagnation due to delays in adopting national regulations for working with fluorinated greenhouse gases (freons). Without these regulations, technicians and installers are unable to obtain or renew mandatory certifications, leaving companies expo

Hocheng Philippines Installs 660 kW Solar Power Facility at Cavite Sanitaryware Plant Philippines: Hocheng Philippines Corporation (HCG), the local arm of Taiwan-based sanitaryware manufacturer Hocheng, has inaugurated a 660-kilowatt (0.66 MW) solar power facility at its manufacturing plant in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The project was developed in partnership with First Gen Corporation, which began construction late last year after the two companies signed an agreement in October 2

Roca Group to Establish Sanitaryware Manufacturing Hub in Kazakhstan Spain/Kazakhstan: Roca Group has announced plans to invest EUR 70 million (USD 76 million) in constructing a large industrial complex in Kyzylorda, southern Kazakhstan, aimed at serving as its regional production hub for Central Asia. The site will include multiple facilities dedicated to producing bathroom products, including sanitaryware, faucets, and installation systems. The plant will have the capacity

Thailand Strengthens Position as a Leading Global Air Conditioner Manufacturer Thailand: Thailand has reinforced its position as a major hub in the global air conditioner manufacturing sector, producing an estimated 19 million units in 2024 and ranking third worldwide after China and Mexico. Export revenues rose by 9 percent to reach USD 7.044 billion, with the United States accounting for 35 percent of total shipments, followed by Europe, ASEAN countries, Australia, and Japa

Summercool Expands Product Portfolio in India with Entry into Air Conditioners and Refrigerators India: India-based Summercool Home Appliances has entered the air conditioner and refrigerator categories during the winter season as part of a strategy to establish early market visibility and strengthen retail partnerships ahead of the summer demand period. The company aims to use this off-season launch to gather consumer insights, streamline production, and prepare for peak sal

Asian Granito India Opens New Showroom in Bangalore India: Asian Granito India Limited (AGL) has inaugurated its new showroom, AGL Universe, in Bangalore, marking a further step in its retail expansion. The 4,500-square-foot facility, developed in collaboration with Saffron Granito, is located at 445/1, Manjunatha Nilaya, Kelkere Village, Horamavu Post, Bangalore. The showroom is owned and managed by Hasmukh Patel and Nitin Patel of Saffron Granito and was inaugurated on 2 No

Resume Direct Distribution Germany: Swegon Germany GmbH has returned the distribution rights for Fujitsu-branded split, multisplit, and VRF air conditioning systems to Fujitsu General. Effective at the turn of the year 2025/2026, Fujitsu General will take over direct distribution of its air conditioning products in Germany, a role previously managed by Swegon Germany. This strategic move aligns with Fujitsu General’s broader European approach of strengthening direct sales to

Invest USD 11.2 Million India: The Noida Authority announced that South Korean firm LG Corp will establish a Global Research and Development (R&D) Centre in Noida with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore (USD 11.2 million), creating around 500 jobs. The authority has allotted 27,129 square metres of land in the Phase-II Industrial Sector for the project, which has already been approved by the authority board. Officials stated that the initiative will not only generate employment

Strengthens Leadership Team UK: Triton Showers has announced three new board appointments directors as part of its strategy to reinforce senior leadership and drive long-term business growth. Emily Johnson has been appointed Sales Director – Retail and Export after 17 years with the company, progressing from National Account Manager to Head of Retail and Export Sales. With over 20 years of experience in product management and development, Philip Viner joins as Commercial Dire

Reports Weak Q2 Results India: Amber Enterprises Ltd. reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the September quarter, missing estimates across all key metrics. The company posted a net loss of Rs. 32.9 crore (USD 0.37 million) compared to a net profit of Rs. 19.2 crore (USD 0.22 million) a year earlier, while revenue from operations declined 2.2% to Rs. 1,647 crore (USD 18.5 million) from Rs. 1,684 crore (USD 18.9 million). EBITDA fell 20% to Rs. 91.2 crore (USD 1.02 millio

Drive Surge in Gas Water Heater Singapore: Condominium developers in Singapore are increasingly adopting gas water heaters, with 70% of new private homes connected to town gas now equipped with such systems. According to City Energy, installations in completed projects have risen by 210% between 2023 and 2025 compared to the 2020–2022 period, with more than 360 condominium developments currently using gas heaters. Instantaneous gas water heaters are now used in over 210,000 h

Doubles Production Capacity Mexcio: Danfoss inaugurated the expansion of its Monterrey factory in Mexico, doubling its production capacity to meet growing demand for energy-efficient HVAC equipment across North and Latin America. The investment, part of the company’s LEAP 2030 strategy to strengthen global supply chains and reduce delivery times, includes expanding the compressor laboratory from 500 m² to 1,000 m² and enhancing sustainability, safety, supplier diversity, and

Three-Year MOU to Strengthen Global HVACR Standards Europe and East Asia: Eurovent Certification and the Korea HVAC Testing Institute (K-HVAC) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance collaboration in HVACR product certification and standard harmonisation, aiming to strengthen cooperation between Europe and East Asia. The partnership will focus on knowledge sharing, joint promotion of standards and certification programmes, and aligning European,

Issues Guidance on HFC Phase-Down Middle East: Eurovent Middle East has released its first industry guidance on the upcoming transition away from hydrofluorocarbon-based refrigerants (HFCs) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, following discussions during the HVACR Next Generation Congress in Riyadh on October 28, 2025. This move follows Saudi Arabia’s ratification of the Kigali Amendment in September, mandating an HFC phasedown starting with a baseline freeze in 202

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