Air conditioning sales soared due to extreme heat

Demand for air conditioning and refrigeration products has increased across Turkey as temperatures have been above the seasonal normal in the recent period.

Mehmet Hakkı Şanal, President of the Air Conditioning Industry Exporters Association (ISIB), said that sales of air conditioners have skyrocketed due to the intense temperature rises seen in the past 3-4 weeks.

Şanal stated that the growth rate of home air conditioners in the market is around 30 percent, saying, “We don’t have any problem with the supply of air conditioning. Our national producers are making new investments, but we also have importing companies. We have enough stocks,” he said.

Emphasizing that the earthquake disaster in Kahramanmaraş is a major factor in increasing demand and rising temperatures, Şanal said, “The temperature is rising in the earthquake region, especially in Adana, Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, especially in the container cities and tent cities. , began to cause serious problems. These provinces were the places where the greatest increase in demand for air conditioning was registered.

THE AIR CONDITIONING INDUSTRY GROWED BY 8 PERCENT

Şanal noted that in addition to the increase in air conditioning sales in Turkey, the air conditioning industry also continued to grow this year, saying:

“We registered a growth of 8 percent in 7 months. As for the air conditioning sector, there is an increase in sales of central refrigeration systems and insulation installation materials. When we look at domestic air conditioners in particular, our exports were up 15 percent on the growth of the sector. Our main objective as a sector this year is a minimum growth of 9 percent.

Last year, the overall exports of the air conditioning industry amounted to 6.7 billion dollars and this year we expect an export of more than 7.2 billion dollars. When you look at individual air conditioners in particular, our growth is accelerating. Our exports are also increasing in the field of refrigeration”.

Regarding heating, Şanal said that exports decreased a bit due to the change in systems in this region, especially after the European Union Green Deal, and that heat pumps are in demand on the European side.

Şanal said: “Now we are moving away from fossil fuels. As companies in the sector, 60 percent of our exports are destined for Europe. In order not to lose our current market, we need to invest in our domestic market at the point of production of heat pump technology. We will continue to educate our people on this issue,” he said.

‘AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLATION TIME EXTENDED UP TO 15 DAYS’

The president of the Ankara Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen of Air Conditioners, Refrigerators and Repairers, Necdet Çerkeşli, also said that with the effect of rising temperatures in the last period, a record level of sales of air conditioners has been reached in the capital.

Çerkeşli said: “In 2022, our average sales in June-July were between 2,000 and 2,200, according to market research, and reached 3,700 in 2023. This increase has meant an intensification of assembly and service services. after sales

Recalling that the air conditioners were plugged in the next day after previous years’ sales, Çerkeşli said, “Importing companies could not imagine that 2023 would be too hot. Also, due to market conditions and high exchange rates, they did not have many air conditioners. Even if the air conditioning is purchased, it is not installed before at least 15 days.”

Çerkeşli pointed out that one of the important problems in the use of air conditioners is the lack of maintenance and made the following assessment:

“Regardless of cooling and heating, air conditioners need to be serviced twice a year, depending on the summer and winter months. Our citizens do not do it due to economic conditions, lack of knowledge and ignorance of the importance of care. They can cause various diseases due to lack of care. Devices breed bacteria. Taking care of them is very important.”

Emphasizing that maintenance to be done in summer is more important, Çerkeşli stated that users should clean the air conditioning filter every 15 days.

THERE IS NO SERVICE CAPACITY TO FOLLOW THE DEMAND

Air-conditioning vendor Mahir Atalay also stated that the demand increased with the effect of temperature rise and this situation negatively affected the assembly process, saying, “There are enough products, but there is no service capacity to meet the demand in the market”.

Emphasizing that air conditioning has become one of the daily necessities, Atalay said, “Our people should supply their air conditioners when their budget is available, not when they urgently need them.”

Atalay added that air conditioning maintenance should be done at least once a year, which extends the life of the device by at least two years. (AA)