According to a recent study by the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), the world heating market was valued at £19.75 billion in 2007. The UK leads the world domestic boiler market, with 1.7 million units produced. It is also the biggest condensing boiler market, accounting for nearly half of the global volume. In contrast, in 2007, Germany and other European countries experienced a decline of 30- 40 percent in the domestic boiler market. Worse, the overall market is expected to decrease gradually in the foreseeable future.

Although the commercial boiler market holds a small share of 0.3 percent, it is expected to grow to 3.1 percent over the next few years. The Asia Pacific is the largest market for oil boilers, with 60,000 units sold in 2007. In the United States, premix gas fired boilers are enjoying healthy growth, representing 35 percent of the market. In Europe, thanks to strict regulations on energy consumption, condensing boiler technology is in high demand, with 486,000 units sold in 2007.

Meanwhile, electric storage water heaters are still leading, occupying nearly 39 percent of the world heating market. Brazil favours electric instantaneous water heaters (81 percent of the world market), while Japan prefers gas instantaneous heating (85 percent of the Asia Pacific market). Another new market is Russia, with a 19-percent growth in 2007. In general, glass lined steel is the most common material for electric storage water heaters, representing 36.8 percent of the global market and nearly 80 percent of the European market.

Finally, in terms of radiators, the global cast iron market decreased by 15 percent in 2007 and is expected to give way to aluminium radiators in the near future. Europe currently takes the lead for towel rail radiators, occupying 87 percent of the world market. Underfloor heating market is also expected to increase steadily until 2011.