KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Heater sales have continued to increase in the Kathmandu Valley as winter season creeps in. Halogen heaters are the most popular out of the three types available in the market; the other two are oil and gas heaters.
Bikram Thapa, showroom in-charge for CG Digital, said: "The overall figure of heater sale in this region has increased as winter has started early this year."
The price of heater ranges from Rs 800 for two-rod halogen heater to Rs 19,000 for 13 fin oil radiator heaters. The price depends upon the size and type of heater. Thapa also estimated that the price of heaters has increased by about 10 per cent this year.
In spite of the price hike, the sales figure is expected to rise as per the trend. Last year, a total of Rs 576 million worth of heaters and its parts were imported in the Nepali market. The total expenditure on imports increased by 33.5 per cent from Fiscal Year of 2016/17 to 2017/18 for the same category, and is expected to rise this year as well due to strong demand for heaters in the domestic market. The expenditure on import of heaters and similar product into Nepalis market increased from Rs 430 million to Rs 576 million.
Suppliers and retailers informed that halogen heaters were driving the sales, followed by oil heater and gas heater. They said the sales numbers of halogen heaters, which is more energy efficient and eco-friendly, remained strong due to the portability and safety when using the heaters, and also because the government resolved the power cut problem in the region. They also added that oil heaters that entered the Nepalese market about a decade ago are improving slowly as they become more accessible to the consumers each passing year.
On the other hand, the demand for gas heater continued to plummet due to decreasing consumer confidence in the product. Over the years, consumer awareness about the risk if using gas heaters has significantly contributed to the falling demand of the product.