![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132274733,imgsize-97728,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/132274733.jpg\" "\\"Representative")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: A scorching summer has spurred demand for seasonal appliances, putting India’s consumer durables sector on track to post a robust double-digit growth in the first quarter this fiscal year, one of its strongest quarterly performances in recent years. Analysts expect the sector to report over 20% year-on-year revenue growth in the June quarter, aided by a strong summer demand and a favourable base after last year’s unusually weak comparable quarter.Air conditioners have emerged as the biggest beneficiaries, while washing machines, televisions, fans and kitchen appliances are also expected to post double-digit growth, analysts say.Demand for summer-led categories gathered momentum from mid-April, peaked in May before moderating in June, helping companies offset last year’s sluggish sales, an analyst from Centrum said. Sales in the year-ago quarter were washed out due to heavy rains. Analysts expect air conditioners to drive growth with sales over 30%, while washing machines, televisions, fans and kitchen appliances are likely to register early double-digit growth.<\/p>\n Q1 of FY27 has delivered encouraging results, with the AC segment emerging as a standout performer, said Sanjay Chitkara, LG Electronics director and co-chief sales and marketing officer. “India’s tropical climate, combined with an extended summer season and delayed monsoon onset, has sustained strong consumer demand well beyond the typical peak period. With AC penetration still at around 13% in a country of India’s scale, the headroom for growth remains substantial,” he said.The robust demand was reflected in market leader Voltas crossing the one-million-unit sales milestone during the first quarter of FY27.However, refrigerators have surprisingly underperformed, as purchases in the category are typically driven by replacement and upgrades rather than seasonality. “While refrigerators have not witnessed the kind of demand surge seen in seasonal categories this summer, we have delivered healthy growth in Q1 over the same period last year, outperforming the industry across both direct cool and frost-free segments,” Anup Bhargava, group head, refrigerators at appliances business of Godrej Enterprises, told TOI.Meanwhile, despite the industry’s strong growth in the June quarter, profitability remained under pressure from rising input costs. The West Asia conflict has raised prices of key commodities, including copper, steel, aluminium, PVC and resins, while a weaker rupee, higher freight rates, import delays and rising fuel prices have further inflated costs.Companies have increased prices by about 5-8%, against an overall cost inflation of nearly 13%, squeezing margins, Blue Star Managing Director B Thiagarajan said earlier.<\/div>\n![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-132274738\/summer-push-durables-eye-double-digit-growth.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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