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- Abnormal time: sales of air conditioners have grown to a record in the Russian Federation
Abnormal time: sales of air conditioners have grown to a record in the Russian Federation
Russians have significantly increased purchases of climate technology in the first half of 2026. Sales of air conditioners increased 2-3 times, market participants reported. They call such rates record-breaking: in previous years, growth in this segment was 10-25%. Experts attribute the abnormal demand to expectations of hot summers and climate change: air conditioners are increasingly being purchased in regions where they have previously been virtually unused. In addition, some consumers who have given up large expenses for vacations or car purchases are redistributing funds in favor of housing, experts say.
How much sales of air conditioners have increased
In the incomplete first half of the year, 1.2–1.4 million air conditioners of all models were sold in Russia. Their implementation showed a sharp increase — by 100-200% (2-3 times) compared to the same period in 2025, Marvel Distribution told Izvestia. This is a record pace for the domestic market: in normal years, the segment grew by 10-25% during this period.
— The demand for inverter air conditioners, which consumers choose due to energy efficiency and low noise levels, has increased most noticeably. Sales of multi-split systems for new buildings and country houses were also actively growing. Online sales channels showed the maximum dynamics, which strengthened their positions compared to traditional offline retail," Larisa Senina, director of the CBT department of the company, told Izvestia.
After a very successful 2024, when the climate technology market grew by 46% in monetary terms, 2025 turned out to be cool, and sales decreased by about 25%, she added. A surplus of 1-2 million units of equipment has accumulated in the distributors' warehouses. The first half of 2026 actually compensated for this failure.
— The main driver was the abnormally hot spring and the forecast of an extremely hot summer, which provoked excessive demand. The realization of pent-up demand and the massive replacement of air conditioners installed in previous years had an additional impact. Sales also supported inflationary expectations and the desire of buyers to fix prices before the seasonal rise in prices of equipment and installation," Larisa Senina noted, adding that the record growth in 2026 looks both unexpected and natural.
Online purchases of air conditioners have already become commonplace for Russians. The statistics of sales of climate control equipment at Wildberries confirm this: this year, the sale of split systems on the marketplace increased by more than 150% in physical terms, RWB told Izvestia. At the same time, the average receipt decreased even slightly due to the wide selection — by 6%. The number of split systems on display has increased by 77% since 2025, the company noted.
— This year we are recording a trend towards an increase in the share of inverter split systems.: they are more economical and work quieter, although they are more expensive. In addition to expanding the range, such high sales dynamics is also explained by the growing convenience and trust in online purchases of complex, bulky and often expensive goods, the company says.
The interest in climate technology is associated with earlier and longer periods of heat in a number of regions, Avito said. An additional factor is the convenience of mobile models that do not require installation and allow you to quickly cool the room. Overall, sales of hand-held air conditioners increased by 31%. Mobile devices (an increase of 59%) and split systems (+17%) also became leaders in terms of growth rates, the company noted. This is largely due to the fact that resale allows you to save an average of 30-40% and at the same time purchase equipment in good condition while maintaining its basic functions.
Why is the demand for climate technology heating up?
Not only are sales of air conditioners growing in Russia, but demand for other equipment to improve the microclimate has increased, M.Video told Izvestia. These are humidifiers, purifiers, and other devices. From the beginning of the year to the middle of June, demand for them increased by 50.6% in physical terms and by 33% in monetary terms compared to the same period in 2025. Since May, the growth rate of the category has exceeded 40-60% year-on-year on a weekly basis, and in some weeks reached almost 70%, the company added.
— The main factors were the early onset of warm weather in a number of regions of the country, as well as the growing consumer attention to air quality in residential areas. If a few years ago, buyers primarily focused on indoor temperature, today humidity, air purification from dust and allergens, as well as the overall level of comfort at home are becoming increasingly important," M.Video noted.
Eldar Murtazin, a leading analyst at Mobile Research Group, explains the high growth rates of air conditioner sales not only with expectations of a hot summer, but also with global climate change. According to him, such devices are beginning to be actively installed in regions where previously there was no sustainable need for them. In particular, sales of air conditioners have almost doubled in a year in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Demand growth is also registered in other regions of the North-West of Russia. At the same time, high demand remains in the south of the country, in particular, in the Krasnodar Territory, where summer heat up to 40 degrees has become commonplace, he added.
Also, according to him, Russians began to invest more in home improvement.
— Now many people cannot or do not want to go on expensive vacations, some are postponing the purchase of a new car. Improving housing, creating comfort and coziness in it are more feasible expenses. People spend money on this, including buying air conditioners," the expert pointed out.
This is also facilitated by the weather forecasts that appeared in April – May of this year, promising a hot summer, hence the high demand for such devices, said Denis Kuskov, CEO of TelecomDaily. The climate is really changing, and rooms now have to be cooled where previously it was not required, he agrees. Savings on travel and reduction of other large expenses have led to the fact that Russians are increasingly taking care of the house, given the relatively small burden of such expenses on the family budget, the expert concluded.
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