The dryer market

Cold climate and good life standards are the preliminary conditions for the appliance diffusion, but perhaps the trend is changing.

While we are writing, only the Spanish association Anfel has released the data concerning the sales of white goods in 2015, therefore, among the reported figures, the one regarding Spain is the only official. There are partial data for Switzerland, Sweden and USA, which have allowed us to calculate final balances with a good approximation degree. Data are instead approximate estimates for the other nations.

Moreover, in several Countries the sales of dryers are not surveyed as self-standing item but combined with the more diffused washing machine, like in China and Japan. Most part of Latin America uses analogue criteria as well.

Market and diffusion

The dryer is essentially diffused in the Countries with a satisfactory income level and a cold climate, then actually all Central-Northern Europe, USA and Canada. Two factors favour its use: the difficulty of obtaining a satisfactory drying when the external temperature is very cold and the atmospheric humidity is high and the fact that in various nations, from USA to Scandinavian Countries and Germany, the possibility of drying outside in courtyards or on balconies is strongly limited or even forbidden.

USA and Great Britain feature the highest sales by inhabitant, with an appliance sold every 45 and every 49 people. Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland show average values and the distant Australia is similar to them, even if with a fundamentally different situation. Less intense are the sales in Germany and in France.

At the opposite end, we find Portugal, Spain and Italy, where the dryer is still scarcely diffused. In Brazil, finally, the hot climate and the scarce income of many inhabitants make the appliance use rare. We find analogue situations in the entire Central and Sothern America, in Africa and in a vast part of Asia.

In all considered Countries, from 2013 to 2015, thanks to the better general economic situation, sales grew.

The diffusion rate corresponds to the consumption intensity: USA lead the ranking with 68% of appliances in dwellings, followed by Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland, Great Britain and The Netherlands. The populous Germany and France show average values while the appliance presence is modest in Spain, Portugal and Italy, not to mention Brazil.

Prospects

In the developed Countries with cold climate, dryer sales are relevant. Two years ago, these markets seemed saturated but the positive trend of the last period makes us envisage further growth possibilities. All lets us think that in the next future the current trends will go on.

In hot nations as well, like Italy and Spain, consumers start understanding the usefulness of this appliance. Sales are expected to grow, with quite noteworthy increment rates.

The unknown of the big Russian market remains, for which no recent data are currently available.

SALES AND DIFFUSION RATE OF DRYERS IN THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN 2015.

(*) Revised datum

Sources: Trade Associations, National Statistical Bodies