South Korean Firms Intensify Competition in Heat Pump Market South Korea: South Korea’s heat pump market is witnessing increased competition as major appliance manufacturers and boiler producers expand their presence in the sector. Heat pumps, which use electricity to provide heating and hot water, are gaining attention as countries pursue energy transition and decarbonisation goals. The South Korean government has also outlined plans to deploy 3.5 million heat pumps by 2035,

TOTO Flotation Bathtub Introduced in India Through Valueline India: Valueline has introduced the Flotation Bathtub by TOTO to the Indian market, making the product available through its Delhi showroom. The bathtub is based on TOTO’s patented Zero Dimension technology, which is designed to recreate the body’s natural resting posture and provide a floating sensation during bathing. The product incorporates several integrated features, including Hydrohands water massage technolo

GCware Plans Expansion into Southern and Western India India: GCware has announced plans to expand its operations into southern and western India as part of its broader growth strategy. The company, which originated as Glocera in 2009, currently has an established presence across northern and eastern regions of the country. Alongside its geographical expansion, GCware is investing in manufacturing automation and smart sanitaryware technologies. According to directors Nimish G

AI INDIA: The continued expansion of artificial intelligence is driving strong demand for professionals specializing in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, robotics engineering, and industrial automation, according to executives at recruitment and executive search firms speaking to ET. This includes experts involved in the design, development, programming, and maintenance of robotic systems. An analysis conducted by recruitment firm Randstad for ET reve

Chinese-Backed Sanitary Ware Manufacturing Facility Opens in Karak JORDAN: A new sanitary ware manufacturing facility backed by Chinese investment was inaugurated in Karak, southern Jordan, on 31 May 2026. Developed by Jincheng Global Ceramic Company with an investment of US$ 80 million, the plant is expected to strengthen Jordan's industrial base, increase local manufacturing value-added and support economic development outside the capital. Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Has

Consumers Rush to Purchase Air Conditioners Ahead of Stricter Efficiency Standards JAPAN: Japan is experiencing a surge in air conditioner sales as consumers seek to buy current models before stricter energy-efficiency standards take effect in April 2027. Retailers such as Bic Camera and Nojima reported significant sales growth, driven by expectations of higher prices for compliant models and increasingly hot summers. New units are expected to cost US$125 to US$187 (¥20,000–3

Hansgrohe Targets EUR 150 Million India Revenue, Sees Market as Strategic Growth Hub India: Plumbing materials major Hansgrohe has identified India as a strategic market and aims to increase its revenue from the country to EUR 150 million in the near term, according to a senior official. The company’s global CFO Martial Gil, however, did not disclose current revenue figures or provide a timeline for achieving the target. Hansgrohe also stated that it does not plan to invest i

Premier Launches New Air Conditioner Manufacturing Plant in Uzbekistan Uzbekistan: A new household appliance manufacturing plant under the Premier brand, specializing in air conditioner, has been launched in the Ahangaran district of the Tashkent region, with the official opening held at the Eltech Industrial Technopark. The project has been developed in partnership with UAE-based Fajr Al Mustaqbal General Trading Company, with total investment of USD 30 million. The facility

Benzoville Brings Spanish Luxury Hardware Brand Mestre to India India: Benzoville has introduced Spanish brand Mestre’s handcrafted hardware collection in India, reflecting the growing emphasis on detail-led design in premium interiors. The collection includes door hardware, bathroom fittings, and accessories crafted with semi-precious stones such as quartz, tiger’s eye, malachite and lapis lazuli, along with Swarovski crystals and 24-carat gold plating. Positioned as “fine j

Voltas INDIA: India’s room air-conditioner (RAC) market continues to experience strong growth, supported by rising temperatures, rapid urbanisation, higher disposable incomes, and increasing adoption in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Industry projections indicate that India’s air-cooling and air-conditioning market is expected to expand at a CAGR of approximately 15–18% in the coming years. Despite this momentum, AC penetration in the country remains relatively low at around 8%, h

Summer JAPAN: With temperatures already exceeding 30°C in parts of Japan and peak summer still approaching, demand for air conditioners is rising sharply, marking a crucial sales period for the cooling industry. However, concerns over naphtha supply disruptions and a shrinking labour force are expected to increase costs for consumers purchasing new units, while installation waiting times may extend to as long as a month. Supply concerns have intensified following disruptions

Air conditioner INDIA: AKAI India, operating under Home Tech Digital Limited, has introduced its 2026 Summer Collection in India, featuring a newly launched Direct Cool refrigerator range and the upgraded NXT version of its Nilgiree Split Inverter Air Conditioners as part of the company’s “Har Ghar Zero Summer” campaign. According to the company, the latest product portfolio is aimed at addressing diverse summer cooling needs across Indian households while catering to multipl

Bathroom AUSTRALIA: Nero Tapware has been named the exclusive distributor of American Standard in Australia. With a legacy spanning more than 150 years, American Standard is globally recognised for its innovation, product quality, and long-standing expertise in bathroom solutions. The partnership represents a strategic expansion for Nero, enabling the company to broaden its portfolio beyond tapware and bathroom accessories to offer more comprehensive bathroom solutions in the

Paloma Rheem Holdings Completes Majority Stake Acquisition in Groupe Atlantic Japan: Paloma Rheem Holdings Co., Ltd. (PRH) has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in France-based HVAC and water heating manufacturer Groupe Atlantic. The transaction expands PRH’s presence in the European market and brings Groupe Atlantic into collaboration with other PRH group companies, including Paloma, General and Rheem. PRH stated that the acquisition strengthens its position acro

Somany Ceramics Delivers Strong FY26 Earnings Growth and Approves Investment in Manufacturing and Solar Expansion INDIA: Somany Ceramics reported a strong financial performance in FY26, with consolidated net profit rising 27.8% year-on-year to US$7.7 million (INR 7,407 lakh), compared with US$6 million (INR 5,798 lakh) in FY25. Consolidated revenue increased to US$291.9 million (INR 280,116 lakh), up from US$278.1 million (INR 266,778 lakh), while earnings per share also impr

Vietnam and Bangladesh Strengthen Trade Cooperation with Target to Double Bilateral Trade VIETNAM: Vietnam and Bangladesh reaffirmed their commitment to expanding economic and trade cooperation during the Vietnam–Bangladesh Business Forum and B2B Matching 2026 event held in Dhaka. The forum attracted nearly 200 delegates, including more than 25 Vietnamese companies and over 100 Bangladeshi businesses. Bilateral trade has consistently exceeded US$1.1 billion despite global eco

Rising construction material prices Nepal: Nepal experienced a significant rise in construction material prices between February and June, creating cost pressure across infrastructure and building projects. Bitumen prices recorded one of the largest increases, rising by approximately 107%, while steel reinforcement bars increased by around 26%, cement by nearly 16%, and diesel prices also moved upward during the period. The increase affected road construction, housing develop

Daikin Thailand: Daikin Industries and Toyota Tsusho NEXTY Electronics established a new joint venture company in Bangkok, named Daikin Toyota Tsusho Electronics Thailand Ltd. The company will focus on embedded software development for air conditioning systems manufactured in Thailand. The partnership was formed to improve development efficiency, shorten development timelines, and strengthen software capabilities as HVAC systems become more advanced and digitally integrated.

Hitachi and Anthropic Partner to Advance Physical AI and Accelerate Global AI Transformation Japan/US: Hitachi and Anthropic PBC have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen Hitachi’s “Lumada 3.0” business model and accelerate the deployment of physical AI across mission-critical sectors including energy, transportation, manufacturing, and finance. As part of the collaboration, Hitachi will deploy advanced AI, including Anthropic’s Claude models, across business proce

South Korea Expands Residential Heat Pump Adoption South Korea: South Korea’s residential heating market is shifting towards heat pumps as the government advances heating electrification measures and manufacturers expand household product offerings. Industry sources stated that KD Navien plans to launch a residential heat pump boiler in the domestic market next month after supplying the product in the United Kingdom. Heat pumps operate by transferring heat from outdoor air in