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New Delhi: The unseasonal rains in the large parts of the country have raised concerns amongst the air-conditioner and cooler manufacturers. The cooling down of temperatures disrupted early summer demand, which typically drives sales.

Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, Chairman, Summercool Home Appliances, spoke to Biplob Ghosal of News9 and discussed in length about the impact and the steps that can be taken by the market players to minimise the impact.

Unseasonal Rains Delay AC & Cooler Sales

Replying to the query if unusual rainfall triggered have disrupted early summer demand and what was the impact on sales, Gupta said, while March is typically the start of strong cooling demand, this year’s unseasonal rainfall has only temporarily delayed buying decisions rather than reducing demand.

“At Summercool, we see this as a shift in timing, with consumers waiting for consistent heat conditions. The overall outlook remains positive, as demand is expected to pick up strongly in the coming weeks, ensuring a healthy season ahead,” he said.

West Asia crisis: Navigating rising raw material costs

When asked whether prices of electronic products such as AC, washing machines would rise as the West Asia crisis has led to an hike in prices of raw materials, such as plastics and disruption in LPG gas supply has impacted production, Gupta said that global developments have created some pressure on input costs, however, Summercool remains focused on efficient operations and smart sourcing strategies to minimise the impact.

There may be selective price adjustments across the industry, but the priority continues to be delivering value, quality, and affordability to customers without major disruption, he added.

What should the RAC industry do if unseasonal rains continue and Middle East conflict prolongs and costs of raw materials remain on the higher side? To this the chairman of Summercool Home Appliances replied, the RAC industry, including his company, is well-equipped to navigate such challenges through agility and innovation.

Gupta listed down some key actions which the sector can take:

• Adapting production to demand patterns
• Strengthening and diversifying supply chains
• Focusing on cost efficiencies
• Enhancing customer engagement and awareness
• These steps will help the industry stay resilient and continue delivering strong performance, even in uncertain conditions.

How do you analyse 2025 year for the RAC industry as unseasonal rain and other factors impacted sales. Guypta replied, Despite short-term weather-related fluctuations, 2025 remains a promising and growth-driven year for the RAC industry. Cooling solutions are becoming increasingly essential due to rising temperatures and changing lifestyles.

“At Summercool, we see strong opportunities driven by growing demand, expanding markets, and increased adoption of energy-efficient products, making the long-term outlook highly positive,” he said.