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Weather woes: Fans, air-con units in short supply but retailers expect stocks to return in coming months

Ms Catherine Low from Etronin Home Appliances showing a few models of fans sold at her shop.

Ms Catherine Low from Etronin Home Appliances showing a few models of fans sold at her shop.

SINGAPORE — After their air-conditioning units broke down last Saturday (May 28), Ms Wong and her husband's top priority was to secure new ones as soon as possible, as they found the sweltering heat unbearable.

Ms Wong, who lives in a four-room Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat with her husband and child, said that they switched on their air-conditioners every evening “without fail”.

Ms Wong and her husband were initially eyeing a Mitsubishi air-conditioner but after hearing that it was out of stock and new units would come in only around August, they scrapped the idea and decided to go for their second choice — a Daikin air-con.

With the mercury hitting record levels, it is no surprise that more Singaporeans are looking to buy fans and air-conditioners for their homes. However, retailers say there is a wait of up to three months for popular brands of these appliances, due to the global shortage of semiconductors and appliance parts.

The stock shortages are affecting the more popular makes such as KDK fans, Mitsubishi air-conditioners and Samsung washing machines, retailers told TODAY.

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