Air-conditioning and fan sales witnessed an unprecedented rise, as described by retailers, during the past period, coinciding with the summer heat wave.
The heat wave contributed to the sales of fans and air-conditioning, which have increased by 30 percent since the beginning of August, says Sayyed Ahmed, a retailer of electrical appliances in Imbaba district. He added the highest air-conditioning sales rates were for the 1.5 and 2.25 hp air-conditioning, given their appropriate prices and moderate consumption of electricity.
Deputy head of the Engineering Industries Chamber of the Federation of Industries Magd Eddin al-Manzalawy estimated the rate at no less than 25 percent increase.
The domestic production of fans and air-conitioning is enough to cover 80 percent of the needs of the market. Twenty percent of the market's needs are imported, he added.
The number of Egyptian households with air-conditioning rose in 2014 by 6.6 percent, according to the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research (Baseera).
The rate in urban areas stands at 12.7 percent, compared to 2.3 percent in rural areas.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
