07 May 2026
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New worldwide air conditioning reveal a 245% increase in demand since 2010, driven by changing demographics, technology shifts, regulatory pressures and the growth of data centres.
BSRIA, has released its latest analysis of the global cooling sector. The BSRIA Worldwide Air Conditioning and Heat Pump reports reveal a complex and diverging global cooling market.
While overall demand has risen 245% since 2010, the market now has two distinct tracks: a high-value commercial sector driven by specialist applications and a high-volume residential sector where intense competition is suppressing prices. The new studies, covering 18 key AC markets and 15 heat pump markets, identify the key forces shaping the industry; enhanced technology, tighter regulation and the rapid proliferation of data centre cooling systems.
Residential price pressure contrasts with commercial value growth
The reports show a clear divergence in pricing. In the commercial sector, average selling prices for products like chillers and air handling units rose by 3.6% and 4.5% respectively in 2025. This contrasts with the residential segment, where the average price for ductless split systems has declined. BSRIA's analysis attributes this to competition, with the top ten suppliers now accounting for over 85% of global sales in this category.
AI and data centres fuel demand for specialist cooling
A major growth has been the data centre industry, where AI’s expansion is creating demand for more advanced liquid cooling solutions. This is accelerating the sales of chillers, with some systems, namely oil-free centrifugal chillers, driving more than half of the market in countries like Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey, the UAE or the USA.
From an HVAC and cooling supplier perspective, growth is being driven not only by the increase in data centre numbers, but the increase in higher heat density per facility. AI workloads are pushing racks beyond what traditional air systems can handle, accelerating the adoption of liquid cooling technologies.
A premium for low-carbon/high-efficiency cooling
Building owners and investors are increasingly focused on lifetime energy performance and the carbon impact of their cooling systems, rather than just the initial capital cost. That is leading to evolution around how AC systems look, how they’re procured, financed and operated. This has resulted in a premium for low-carbon, high-efficiency cooling solutions.
Technology shift towards inverters and low-GWP refrigerants
The research confirms a rapid shift towards inverter-based systems, particularly in emerging economies. India's market for inverter split systems is projected to reach 100% by 2029, with Brazil and Saudi Arabia also showing strong growth. This is happening alongside a legislative push to phase down low-energy-efficiency AC systems and HFCs, making low-GWP and natural refrigerants mainstream choices for new cooling systems and retrofits.
Space heating keeps pulling AC sales up
BSRIA’s research also confirms that 2025 marked the beginning of a recovery for the global heat pump market. While often associated with cooling, air conditioning systems are playing an increasingly important role in heating installations, with reversible single-splits growing 3.3% by volume on a global scale.
Aline Breslauer, Research Manager, BSRIA AC, Refrigeration and Ventilation, commented: "2025 was a year of uncertainty, and in the AC market we saw rising competition with increased M&A activity driving consolidation. However, globally the need for cooling technologies remains high, with demand jumping 245% over the past 15 years. We predict that growth will continue, though it will remain uneven amid ongoing economic and geopolitical volatility.
She added: “HVAC’s next phase will not be won by technology alone. It will be won by organisations that are built to operate in this new environment. Advantage will come from adaptability, not optimisation."
This global market analysis forms part of BSRIA’s annual global updates on cooling with its World Air Conditioning and World Heat Pumps studies.
To find out more about BSRIA’s World Wide Air Conditioning 2026 report or the Worldwide Heat Pump Market Report 2026, visit, click here.
