Europe hit by heat wave, China flooded with portable air conditioners orders

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning at a press conference in Beijing, Monday, July 6, 2026 (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government said that the increase in demand for portable air conditioning products from the European continent is beneficial to both parties.

"China-EU trade has benefited consumers and benefited traders. This is not something that can be imposed, but the result of a mutual choice that benefits both sides," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning at a press conference in Beijing, Monday, July 6, reported by ANTARA.

Heat waves in Europe have boosted China's exports of air conditioning products to the blue continent.

Data from Chinese customs, in June 2026 alone, there was an increase of 72.8 percent compared to the previous year while China's air conditioner exports to the European Union reached 3.76 billion US dollars in the first half of 2026, up 43.2 percent compared to 2025.

The strongest demand is for portable air conditioners from Chinese manufacturers such as Midea, Haier, Gree, and Dreame. In addition to these products, fans, ice makers, equipped hats, handheld fans, cooling blankets and smart temperature control devices are also in demand both online and offline.

"Are Chinese goods 'excess capacity' or lack of supply? Consumers can decide for themselves. Quality products that are in demand and priced reasonably will naturally find a suitable market," continued Mao Ning.

China-EU trade, according to Mao Ning, is driven by market demand and shaped by mutually complementary economic relations.

"Hopefully the European Union will see things from the right perspective, abandon the 'zero-sum' mentality and work with China to expand the scope of mutually beneficial cooperation," said Mao Ning.

According to the Director of Ningbo Heallux International Trading Co., Hu Benchun in an interview with Chinese state media, this is because the cost of installing air conditioners in Europe is very expensive while Chinese-made portable air conditioners offer an alternative for Europe during heat waves.

Unlike major cities in Asia and the United States, air conditioners are still rarely found in many homes in Europe, where public housing and old buildings are historically built for winter insulation rather than regulating extreme summer heat.

Another major attraction is that China's air conditioners are said to consume little electricity with Chinese technology that is claimed to be made to meet global market demand and regulations.

Portable cooling units are needed in nursing homes, classrooms, or upper floor apartments because they can prevent dehydration, heat attacks, or worse.

In France, customers have been queuing up before opening hours at the French branch of Chinese consumer electronics and technology company Xiaomi in Paris in the hope of buying electric fans.

For decades, air conditioning was not considered a necessity in many homes in Europe. In countries such as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, many consumers used to think of hot weather as a short summer episode so that many buildings in Europe were not designed with extreme heat in mind.

This perception has changed as heat waves have become more frequent, intense, and sustainable, thus providing health problems as well as comfort, especially for the elderly, children, and those suffering from chronic diseases.

This year's heatwave, which began on June 20, is the worst ever recorded in history - with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany over the weekend.

The North American market also experienced an increase, with AC exports reaching 469,000 units in May, marking an annual growth of 12 percent. In addition to ACs, orders for portable fans also increased.