Heat Wave Drives Up Sales of Air Conditioners

Sales of air conditioners are expected to hit a new record high this year due to the continued heat wave gripping the country.

According to the home appliance industry on Monday, sales will likely reach 2.2 million units, up 10 percent from the previous high of 2 million set in 2013.

A heat wave moved in earlier than usual this year, with the average temperature in May being the highest since 1973. The country has remained in the grip of the sizzling heat since the end of July, as simultaneous heat advisories were issued across the country last week for the first time since 2008.

An industry insider said, "Sales of air conditioners usually die down in August, but we don't see that this year as the scorching heat continues to affect the whole country."

Samsung already sold 200,000 units of its latest air conditioner launched in January. The 100,000-mark was reached in early June, and another 100,000 were sold in just two months.

LG, who usually stops manufacturing air conditioners at its Changwon plant in South Gyeongsang Province in early August, decided to continue production until mid-August. Dayou Winia also decided to run its factory for one more week, as sales are up 50 percent on-year.