ACREX India 2026, South Asia’s largest exhibition dedicated to heating, ventilation, air conditioning and intelligent building solutions, opened today at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, bringing together manufacturers, policymakers and technology leaders from across the global HVAC ecosystem. Organised by the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE), the three-day exhibition is being held from March 12 to 14 and highlights the latest developments shaping the future of cooling technologies and sustainable building systems.
The exhibition arrives at a moment when India is emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing HVAC markets. Rapid urban development, rising temperatures, expanding infrastructure and increasing demand for indoor comfort are driving strong growth across residential, commercial and industrial cooling segments. Industry projections indicate that the Indian HVAC market could reach nearly $29.4 billion by 2030, underlining the importance of innovation, energy efficiency and collaboration across the sector.
The opening ceremony was attended by several industry leaders, including Mukundan Menon, Managing Director of Voltas Limited; Ravichandran Purushothaman, President of Danfoss Industries Private Limited; Jayanta Kumar Das, Society President of ISHRAE; Amod Dikshit, Chairman of ACREX India; Anoop Ballaney, Chairman of ISHRAE Trade Fairs; Himanshu Chitnis, Head of ISHRAE Trade Fairs; and Vishal Kapur, Chairman of Advocacy at ISHRAE. Their participation reflected the growing importance of the exhibition as a meeting ground for strategic discussion, technological advancement and industry cooperation.
Mukundan Menon highlighted the strong outlook for India’s cooling industry, noting that the sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of nearly 15 percent and could double in size within the next five years. India currently sells around 15 million residential air-conditioning units every year, a figure that is projected to reach nearly 30 million units by the end of the decade. On the commercial side, rapid construction activity across sectors such as data centres, district cooling projects and urban infrastructure is generating new opportunities for HVAC providers.
Mr Menon also pointed to the recent reduction in GST on air conditioners from 28 percent to 18 percent as a positive policy measure that could stimulate demand, with its first visible impact likely during the 2026 summer season. Despite challenges such as fluctuating commodity prices, currency volatility and logistics disruptions, manufacturers remain optimistic about the country’s long-term demand outlook.
Ravichandran Purushothaman of Danfoss Industries noted that India’s HVAC industry has almost doubled in size over the past three years, supported by increasing domestic manufacturing and government initiatives encouraging self-reliance in key industrial sectors. According to projections outlined in the India Cooling Action Plan, the country’s cooling demand could grow eightfold by 2038.
Jayanta Kumar Das emphasised that ACREX India serves as a platform where companies, researchers and policymakers can exchange ideas and showcase innovations. He also highlighted the importance of addressing the full lifecycle of HVAC systems, since installation, operation and maintenance together account for nearly 90 percent of total system costs.
ACREX India 2026 is expected to draw more than 30,000 visitors and features over 400 exhibitors from more than 40 countries. Participating nations include Germany, Japan, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and several others. Leading global manufacturers such as Daikin, Voltas, Danfoss, Schneider Electric, Panasonic, Carrier, ABB and Johnson Controls are presenting advanced cooling technologies designed to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The exhibition also includes seminars, product demonstrations and innovation showcases focused on indoor air quality, targeted ventilation systems and energy-efficient cooling technologies. Dedicated zones allow visitors to explore emerging solutions and learn about new developments across the HVAC value chain.
Although the industry is expanding rapidly, air-conditioning penetration in India remains relatively low, with only about 10 percent of households currently owning AC units. This indicates substantial room for growth as incomes rise and infrastructure development accelerates. With strong international participation and a comprehensive technology showcase, ACREX India 2026 continues to strengthen its position as a leading global gathering for professionals working across the HVAC and refrigeration industry.
