Europe’s heatwave is driving demand for Chinese cooling products, from portable air conditioners and fans to ice makers, as consumer habits begin to shift.
A deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe is doing more than breaking temperature records. It is changing how people keep cool while driving strong demand for Chinese-made cooling products.
Since June 21st, more than 1,300 excess deaths linked to extreme heat have been recorded across Europe, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He said Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, with around 150 million people experiencing extreme heat. Schools have closed in some areas, while power grids are facing growing pressure.
Against this backdrop, sales of air conditioners, portable cooling devices and other summer products have climbed across the continent.
Cooling Demand Rises
Air conditioning has long been less common in Europe than in many parts of Asia. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the region’s air-conditioner ownership rate is only about 20 per cent. In England, 4% of homes currently have air conditioning, according to the University of Reading.
However, repeated summer heatwaves are beginning to reshape consumer demand.
In Italy, sales of cooling products have surged following several rounds of hot weather since late May. According to Chinese media reports citing cross-border e-commerce data, fan sales rose 543 per cent compared with the previous period. Sales of awnings increased 117 per cent, while hiking sandals climbed 105 per cent.
The trend is also evident on Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms. According to AliExpress, sales of cooling products in Italy in June were about ten times higher than in March. Portable air conditioners, tower fans and desktop fans have become some of the platform’s best-selling seasonal products.
Chinese Firms Respond
Chinese manufacturers have moved quickly to meet the rising demand.
In Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, overseas buyers are placing orders for a wide range of cooling products, including handheld fans, misting umbrellas and portable appliances. Mature supply chains and cross-border e-commerce networks are helping these products reach European consumers more efficiently than before.
Manufacturers in Ningbo have also reported strong growth. One exporter said shipments of ice makers to Europe increased by more than 70 per cent during the first five months of this year.
Air-conditioner makers are also reporting strong demand. Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea said demand for its PortaSplit portable split air conditioner has grown rapidly in Europe. According to the company, sales in France, Spain, Germany and the UK all increased by more than 70 per cent year on year.
Meanwhile, demand has also risen across the broader market. Reuters reported that shipments through German e-commerce channels increased about 37 per cent in May from a year earlier, while shipments to Spain and France more than doubled.
As Europe experiences longer and more frequent heatwaves, demand for cooling products is expanding beyond the region’s traditional southern markets. For Chinese manufacturers, the surge in orders reflects growing demand for cooling products as Europe adapts to hotter summers.
Written by Ronnie Yu, additional reporting by Xinhua, HKCNA, Global Times.
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