Drivers of change in global heating markets

World domestic boiler-sales dynamics, 2016 - 2018. BSRIA investigation of the countries’ market shares reveals a dynamic change of the competitive landscape as big players keep moving into emerging or faster growing markets.

The Asia and Pacific region remains the largest heating market in the world, in volume terms, despite a decline in sales volume in 2018 by 8%. Wall-hung, non-condensing boilers dominate but heat pumps are increasingly important, reaching 40% of the heating market in that region. China, by far the largest heating market in the region, has seen mixed performance in 2018 with domestic boilers recording a significant fall in sales.

In Europe, ErP legislation has ensured that condensing boilers dominate the marketplace; Turkey has just introduced similar legislation making condensing technology mandatory. The trend away from floor-standing boilers towards wall-hung type continues and we saw a 6% swing in 2018, that is happening in both Western and Eastern Europe alike.

Europe has also recorded the dynamic growth of 13% in the hydronic heat-pump market, with France being a strong market leader in terms of the number of units sold and Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and UK being the most important markets in terms of growth recorded.Heating in North America continues to be dominated by furnaces, however wall-hung condensing boilers continue to make strong inroads to the residential market where they now account for 36%. Condensing technology is also progressing strongly with condensing residential and commercial boilers reaching the 57% share of the total boiler market.

The recently published BSRIA World Market Intelligence studies on heating monitor the global and regional heating markets and their dynamics in technology, sales volume and competitive environment. The reports explain heating practices of the countries, look at the impact of policies and technology innovations that aim to reduce CO2 emissions and respond to consumer expectations.

BSRIA reports include information on sales, with a high level of granularity in segmentation, on legislation, regulations and incentives, technology shifts, changes in energy prices and analysis of how all these factors affect each country’s market. Following its proven methodology, BSRIA also provides five years' forecast for market sales.

Globally, nearly all the biggest world markets have seen positive developments in both domestic boilers and heat pump sales. While heat pumps are mainly installed in new buildings, boilers are mostly sold for replacement. While legislation plays an important role for both type of products, energy efficiency, comfort and connectivity (that enables smartness) are becoming increasingly potent influencers too.

[edit] Key information

Global geographical coverage
Data in the reports supplied for 2017 and 2018, with forecasts to 2023.
Products coverage includes domestic and commercial applications
Based on primary and secondary research, face-to-face and telephone interviews
For more information on the availability and costs of BSRIA’s reports, contact the WMI sale department:

EMEA sales enquiries contact: BSRIA UK: bsria.co.uk wmi@bsria.co.uk or +44 (0) 1344 465 540
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[edit] About this article

This article was written by Socrates Christidis, Research Manager – Heating & Renewables - BSRIA’s World Market Intelligence Division. It was previously published in July 2019 on the BSRIA website and can be accessed here.

Other articles by BSRIA on Designing Buildings Wiki can be accessed here.

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--BSRIA