Haier Bangladesh Launches 24/7 Call Centre, Expands Nationwide After-Sales Network Bangladesh: Haier Bangladesh has launched a 24/7 customer call centre and expanded its after-sales service network by adding 17 exclusive service centres and 7 direct service centres across the country. The initiative provides uninterrupted customer support, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and aims to improve response times and service quality nationwide. The company said the expan

U.S. Justice Department Sues California Cities Over Natural Gas Bans U.S.: The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the cities of Morgan Hill and Petaluma in California over local ordinances that ban natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction. Filed in the Northern District of California, the complaint argues that the bans increase energy costs for consumers and undermine U.S. energy dominance by restricting federally regulated appliances

Midea Partners with WS Weinmann & Schanz to Expand Nationwide HVAC Distribution in Germany Germany: Midea has announced a major expansion of its sales network, confirming that from February 2026 it will become a listed HVAC supplier of specialist wholesaler WS Weinmann & Schanz GmbH. The partnership covers Midea’s full HVAC portfolio, including plug-and-play solutions such as PortaSplit, as well as dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and heat pumps. This marks Midea’s first whol

Franke Group Acquires Røros Metall to Boost Nordic Kitchen Hood Business Switzerland: The Switzerland-based Franke Group, headquartered in Aarburg, has acquired 100% of the shares of Røros Metall, a premium Norwegian manufacturer of RørosHetta kitchen hoods and ventilation systems, to expand its Nordic presence and strengthen expertise in central ventilation. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Røros Metall will become part of Franke Home Solutions, reinfor

Belize Introduces New Import Rules for Cooling Equipment to Cut Emissions Belize: Belize is introducing the Environmental Protection (Ozone Layer Protection) Regulations, 2025 in phases over the next three months to regulate the import of refrigerators, air conditioners, and other cooling equipment. The Department of the Environment (DOE) said the regulations will tighten controls on refrigerants to protect the ozone layer and reduce harmful emissions. Under the new rules, bu

Klaus Grohe, Former Hansgrohe Head, Dies at 88 Germany: Klaus Grohe, the long-running head of Hansgrohe Group and honorary chairman of its advisory board, passed away on January 3, 2026, at the age of 88. Born in 1937 in Aachen, Germany, the youngest son of founder Hans Grohe joined the company in 1968 after studying business and economics in Bern, Switzerland. Over nearly five decades, he led the company as head of sales, managing partner, chairman of the executive board fro

Saudi Ceramics Expands Retail Footprint with New Riyadh Showroom SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Ceramics Co. opened a new retail showroom in Al Nuzhah, Riyadh, on Jan 11, expanding its network to 67 showrooms across the Kingdom. The company said in a statement that the financial impact of the opening is expected from Q1 2026. The move aligns with Saudi Ceramics’ retail expansion strategy to strengthen market presence, enhance customer accessibility, and meet evolving market expectations

China CHINA: China’s consumer inflation edged up to a 34-month high in December, yet broader deflationary risks remain entrenched. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed CPI rising 0.8% year-on-year, slightly higher than November. However, full-year inflation was flat-the weakest in 16 years, highlighting fragile demand amid a prolonged property downturn, weak job prospects, and external pressures, including the global trade war under Donald Trump. Policymakers co

Bangladesh’s Ceramics Sector Targets Export Expansion Beyond Garments BANGLADESH: Bangladesh’s ceramics industry is emerging as a strong export candidate beyond ready-made garments, supported by rapid growth in capacity and investment. The country has more than 70 ceramic manufacturers producing tableware, tiles, and sanitaryware, with annual domestic sales of roughly USD 730 million. Over the past decade, production and investment have increased by nearly 150%. Exports to ov

Samsung Electronics Releases Fourth-Quarter 2025 Earnings Guidance SOUTH KOREA: Samsung Electronics announced earnings guidance for the fourth-quarter of 2025, projecting consolidated sales of approximately USD 69.9 billion and operating profit of about USD 15.0 billion, based on K-IFRS. The estimates reflect the median of expected ranges due to Korean disclosure rules. For comparison, Q3 2025 sales stood at USD 64.7 billion with operating profit of USD 9.1 billion, while Q4

Solar Expansion in Germany Stalls in 2025 as Rooftop Installations Weaken GERMANY: Germany’s solar power capacity expansion remained broadly flat in 2025, with around 17.5 gigawatts of new installations, nearly matching 17.7 gigawatts added in 2024, according to preliminary data from German Solar Association (BSW-Solar). While photovoltaics has become Germany’s second-largest electricity generation technology, the pace of expansion is insufficient to meet the 2030 target of 2

OBI GERMANY: OBI is set to open 15 new stores in Germany by mid-2026, marking the fastest retail space expansion in its 55-year history. Partnering with five franchise operators, the DIY retailer is going to add more than 130,000 square meters of selling space in the first half of 2026. The expansion reflects OBI’s dual operating model combining centrally managed outlets with entrepreneur-led franchises and aligns with its long-term strategy to become Europe’s leading destina

US Incentive Changes Raise Home Electrification Costs from 2026 USA: The removal of United States federal tax credits for residential solar panels, battery storage systems and heat pumps from the end of 2025 is expected to increase the cost of home electrification from 2026. While the change does not raise the upfront price of equipment, it eliminates the ability for homeowners with tax liability to offset costs through incentives. A typical residential solar and battery inst

Foreign Interest Sustains Real Estate M&A Activity in Vietnam Vietnam: Foreign investor interest in real estate mergers and acquisitions in Vietnam has remained steady, despite many publicly disclosed deal values appearing modest. Market participants indicate that these figures do not fully reflect actual capital commitments, as investment strategies have increasingly shifted towards long-term development projects and strategic partnerships. Research indicates that Vietnam ha

BNW Developments Plans Construction Partnership in Ras Al Khaimah UAE: BNW Developments has announced a proposed construction partnership valued at AED 1 billion (USD 272 million/EUR 250 million) with China Railway No. 4 Engineering Group Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Group Limited. The collaboration is intended to support BNW’s upcoming development projects in Ras Al Khaimah, following progress on enabling and foundation works across its existing portfolio. The par

Western Chicago Residential HVAC Business Changes Ownership USA: A residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) company serving the western Chicago area has been sold, according to business broker Patrick Lange. The transaction involves a company founded in 1998 that has operated in the local market for over two decades. At the time of sale, the business reported annual revenue of approximately USD 1.53 million (EUR 1.41 million). The sale was completed as par

A. O. Smith Completes Acquisition of Leonard Valve USA: A. O. Smith Corporation has completed the acquisition of Leonard Valve through an all-cash transaction valued at USD 470 million (EUR 430 million), subject to customary adjustments. After accounting for estimated tax benefits, the transaction value is approximately USD 412 million (EUR 377 million) and was financed through borrowing under a new credit agreement. The acquisition expands A. O. Smith’s activities in water m

Rising Copper Costs Likely to Push Air Conditioner Prices Higher India: Consumers planning to purchase air conditioners may face higher prices as copper costs have increased in recent months, raising input expenses for manufacturers. Copper prices recently exceeded USD 12,000 per tonne (EUR 11,000 per tonne), according to market data, adding pressure across categories that rely heavily on the metal. In air conditioners, copper is a key material used in components such as coil

Amber Subsidiaries Secure Approval Under Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme India: Amber Enterprises India stated that its step-down subsidiaries, Ascent K Circuit and Shogini Technoarts, have received formal approval under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme. The approval, granted in early January 2026 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, supports the localisation of electronic components and is intended to strengthen India’s electr

Russia Expects Decline in New Home Sales as Mortgage Rules Tighten Russia: State housing agency of Russia, Dom.RF, expects sales of new built homes to decline in 2026 following tighter Russia mortgage subsidies, despite the housing market avoiding a downturn in the previous year. Dom.RF forecasts new home sales of 21 to 22 million square metres in 2026, valued at RUB 4.5 to 4.6 trillion (USD 55.4 to 56.6 billion; EUR 50.9 to 52.0 billion), representing a fall in both volume a