June 14 | ASEAN Unified Energy Efficiency Standards Take Effect, Phase-out of Low-efficiency Models by 2027

The ASEAN Energy Council released unified energy efficiency rules, requiring all air compressors circulated within the region to meet Class 1 energy efficiency and ISO8573 Class 1 air purity standards by 2027. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand rolled out local regulatory policies first. Food, photovoltaic and wastewater treatment plants across Southeast Asia are phasing out old fixed-speed compressors, driving a 33% year-on-year surge in inquiries for permanent magnet variable-speed and waste heat recovery units. Chinese assembly bases in Vietnam and Thailand keep expanding capacity, and Chinese variable-speed screw compressors account for 42% of Southeast Asia’s import market.