European SHK Market Shows Stable Business Climate in Q2 2026
Europe: The European sanitary, heating and air conditioning (SHK) market recorded a stable business climate in the second quarter of 2026, although performance varied across sectors and distribution channels. The SHK business climate barometer remained at +3 points, unchanged from the previous quarter. Installation companies recorded +17 points and manufacturers +6 points, while wholesalers stood at -13 points. By product category, heating technology improved from +9 to +14 points, while sanitary ware remained at -3 points and ventilation and air conditioning at -4 points. The figures indicate that market stabilisation has not translated into uniform conditions across product categories, with sanitary products continuing to face a weaker business environment.
The differing performance across product groups highlights the importance of monitoring demand across customer groups and distribution channels. For the European bathroom and kitchen products market, the sanitary ware results indicate that a broad-based recovery has yet to emerge, while manufacturers, wholesalers and installers continue to face different market conditions. Opportunities are therefore expected to vary by product segment and project activity, with customer support, cooperation with planners and project-related advice remaining relevant to businesses operating in the market.
Source: SHK Journal
