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The growth in the global air conditioning market is expected to soon recover from the decline triggered by the economic recession. According to a recent report, the market is expected to reach 78.8 million units in volume sales by 2015 with factors such as the focus on energy efficiency improvements, growing replacement needs and increasing demand from developing countries driving the growth.

Once a luxury good, comfort cooling is fast becoming a necessity in most countries, opening opportunities for the industry. The market in thus predicted to reach 78.8 million units in volume sales by 2015. Market demand especially in the residential segment is fueled by factors such as global warming, depletion of the ozone layer and the El Nino effect. These issues along with market trends and growth drivers are explained in the “Air Conditioning Systems: A Global Strategic Business Report” issued recently by Global Industry Analysts, Inc (GIA).

Asia-Pacific the largest regional market; Room ACs the largest market segment

Having accounted for about 49% of the total volume sales in 2009, Asia-Pacific continues to be the largest regional air conditioning (AC) market. Rising per capita incomes in countries such as China and India and other factors such as rise in urban population explain the growth in the region.

The market segment of room AC systems, entailing low-cost features and ease of installation and maintenance, accounted for about 80% in total volume for the year 2009.

Global warming: a driver

Indeed the warming of the climate contributes to a growing demand for comfort cooling. Moreover, the focus of government policies on climate and energy issues further pushes the market towards improving energy efficiency of products. “Government driven focus on energy efficiency injects optimism among air conditioner manufacturers, as it promises to drive demand for energy efficient air conditioning systems such as inverter based air conditioners in the upcoming years”, reads the report. Other drivers of increased growth for the market in the coming years include rapidly growing replacement needs of units in the US and Europe as well as the increasing demand from developing countries.