Morocco’s World Cup Preparations Are Reshaping the HVAC Market Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup are creating an infrastructure boom that extends far beyond football. The country is investing heavily in airports, hotels, railways, stadiums and urban infrastructure, creating a sizeable pipeline of new buildings and facilities that would require cooling, ventilation and other HVAC systems. The scale of the investment is significant. According to the IMF, Morocc

Mudiame University Plans Pilot Ceramic Factory In Nigeria Nigeria: Mudiame University has announced plans to establish a pilot ceramic factory within six months in partnership with several Italian organisations, following engagements at TECNA 2026 in Italy. The initiative aims to support teaching, equipment development, technology transfer and manpower training, alongside the launch of the university’s ceramic engineering programme, which has received approval from the Nation

Nigeria Partners with Italian Organisations to Develop Ceramic Manufacturing Nigeria: Mudiame University and Mudiame International Group are seeking to develop domestic ceramic engineering expertise through partnerships with Italian technology organisations. Following participation in TECNA 2026, an international ceramic and surface industry exhibition in Rimini, Italy, the university's Chancellor and Mudiame International Group Chairman, Professor Sunny Eromosele, announced

Growing Share of Rimless Water Closets in South Africa Adoption of rimless water closets is growing in South Africa as consumers show greater interest in products that are easier to clean, more hygienic, and better suited to contemporary bathroom designs. This shift reflects a change in buying preferences, with consumers increasingly looking beyond basic functionality and paying more attention to hygiene, appearance, and ease of maintenance. Developers, retailers, and install

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

South African Economy Contracts 0.2% In Second Quarter South Africa: South Africa’s economy contracted by 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis in the second quarter of 2026, ending six consecutive quarters of growth, according to Statistics South Africa. Mining output declined by 3.0%, manufacturing fell by 1.8% and trade contracted by 1.9%. Higher imports and lower investment also constrained economic activity during the quarter. The economic slowdown follo

Nigeria’s Construction Costs Surge Nigeria: Nigeria’s real estate and construction sectors are facing severe cost pressures, with building material prices rising by up to 440% between 2019 and 2026. Iron rod prices increased by 410%, cement by 367% and blocks by 275%, driven by currency depreciation, higher production costs, logistics expenses and import dependence. Around 60–80% of finishing materials, including tiles and sanitary ware, are imported, increasing exposure to f

Midea RAC Partners with NARAP for HVAC Technical Training in Nigeria Nigeria: Midea Residential Air Conditioner Division (Midea RAC) partnered with the Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Practitioners (NARAP) at NARAP Day 2026, held in Abia State, Nigeria, on July 23–24, as part of its nationwide technical training initiative launched in May 2026. The program covers HVAC technologies, standardized installation practices, after-sales service, and Midea’

Algeria SKD Legislation Algeria’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry is undergoing a major transformation, driven in large part by changes in the country’s regulatory environment. One of the major developments has been the introduction and enforcement of Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) legislation that has changed the way international and domestic manufacturers operate. With the enforcement of these regulations, more and more HVAC companies are partnering with

AC Export ALGERIA: Algeria is accelerating efforts to diversify its economy beyond hydrocarbons, with domestic manufacturers gaining traction in European markets. Condor Electronics, the country’s largest appliance manufacturer, has secured orders for 250,000 air conditioners from European buyers, highlighting the growing competitiveness of North African manufacturers in Europe’s consumer appliance supply chain. The milestone was underscored during a visit by Algeria’s Minist

Nigeria Calls for Greater Adoption of Energy-Efficient Building Standards Nigeria: The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Nigeria Chapter has called for wider adoption of international standards in heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and building design, stating that energy-efficient buildings can reduce energy consumption in residential and commercial properties by up to 40%. During the investiture of the chapter's ne

Goodwill Ceramics Seeks Talks Over Kenya's Ceramic Import Duty Tanzania: Goodwill (Tanzania) Ceramics has called on the Tanzanian government and the East African Community (EAC) to engage with Kenya following the introduction of a 5% excise duty on imported ceramic tiles and sanitaryware under Kenya's Finance Act 2026. The company stated that the revised tax regime could increase export costs, affect regional supply chains and create uncertainty for manufacturers trading with

BRG is pleased to announce the recent publication of the 2026 Heating and Cooling market reports for its tiers 2 countries. BRG reports provide an in-depth overview of the most recent developments in the Heating markets in several European countries, including market trends, price developments, sales per sector, supply structure, and distribution patterns. Tier 2 European Heating and Cooling Markets: 2025 Developments Across recently published Tier 2 European countries, 2025

Lecico Egypt Completes Merger of Three Wholly Owned Subsidiaries Egypt: Lecico Egypt has completed the merger of its three wholly owned subsidiaries, International Ceramics, European Ceramics, and Lecico for Ceramic Industries finalizing a process that began last year. Following the merger, the company's issued capital was reduced to approximately USD 4.04 million (EGP 200 million) from approximately USD 8.08 million (EGP 400 million) by halving the par value of its shares to

HVAC KENYA: Kenya’s High Court has upheld a Tax Appeals Tribunal decision allowing certain imported heat pumps to remain eligible for a zero-duty tariff, a ruling that is expected to impact pricing, procurement, and investment across the country's HVAC and renewable energy sectors. The decision provides greater clarity for industry stakeholders regarding the tariff treatment of energy-efficient technologies. The case involved Tile & Carpet Centre Ltd’s Aertech All-in-One hea

LMD and Schneider Electric Partner on Smart City Projects in Egypt Egypt: LMD has signed a memorandum of understanding with Schneider Electric to collaborate on the development of smart and energy-efficient projects across Egypt. The agreement focuses on integrating technologies related to sustainability, energy management, artificial intelligence and smart city infrastructure into current and future developments. The partnership will utilise Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure

Kenya Sanitaryware Factory Kenya: A new sanitary ware manufacturing facility has commenced operations in Kisumu County, following an investment of US$20 million. The plant, developed by Keda Ceramics, is the first sanitary ware factory in Kenya and the largest in East Africa, marking a significant step in the country’s industrial expansion. The facility is aligned with the government’s affordable housing initiative, which is driving demand for locally produced construction ma

New Ceramic Plant Set to Strengthen Ethiopia’s Domestic Production ETHOPIA: A new ceramic manufacturing plant in Ethiopia is set to begin production within three weeks, marking a significant boost to the country’s domestic building materials sector. Built by Baijia Ceramic Manufacturing in Tulefa, about 65 km from Addis Ababa, the facility was developed with an investment of US$50 million and spans 30 hectares. The factory is expected to produce between 35,000 and 50,000 squa

Kenya Urges African Nations to Adopt Affordable Housing Model Kenya: Kithure Kindiki has called on African countries to adopt Kenya’s affordable housing model to address urban housing challenges. He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the Second Africa Urban Forum held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. The housing programme, introduced under the administration of William Ruto, includes more than 200 construction sites and has contributed to employment g

South Africa reports rise in FDI inflows in fourth quarter of 2025 South Africa: South Africa recorded foreign direct investment inflows of ZAR 41.3 billion (approximately USD 2.4 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with outflows of ZAR 21.0 billion (approximately USD 1.2 billion) in the third quarter, according to data published by the South African Reserve Bank. The inflows were attributed to non-resident investments across sectors including media and entertain