SOKOR Appliance Sales Soar As Scorching Heat Torches Country

Sales of summer appliances, including air conditioners and fans, are soaring in South Korea, industry sources said, as the sweltering heat continues to scorch the country, Yonhap News Agency reported.

With the daily temperature reaching as high as 38 C in some regions, demand for air conditioners and other cooling appliances is also going up with the stay-at-home trend remaining solid amid the fourth wave of the pandemic here, people in the electronics industry said.

Samsung Electronics Co. said its domestic air conditioner sales in the July 1-22 period more than doubled from a year earlier, with sales growth of its flagship model, BESPOKE wind-free air conditioner, increasing 95 percent from a year earlier.

LG Electronics Inc. did not reveal sales figures but said its air conditioner sales this month have expanded "significantly" from a year earlier, adding that its production lines are in full operation.

Local electronics retailers are also seeing a sharp sales growth in summer appliance sales. ET Land said its air conditioner sales between July 7 and 13 soared 188 percent on-year and 44 percent from the previous week.

Lotte Hi-Mart said its air conditioner and fan sales increased 170 percent on-year and 140 percent on-year, respectively, in the July 1-15 period, while ice water dispenser sales jumped 70 percent from a year earlier. Industry insiders said air conditioner sales this year could reach the highest level since 2018, when the country experienced the most severe heatwave in 111 years.

An estimated 2.5 million air conditioners were sold in South Korea in 2018.

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