A severe summer heatwave across Europe has pushed air-conditioner demand sharply higher, with consumers and retailers turning increasingly to China-made air conditioners to cover a widening supply gap.
Several European countries, including Germany and the Czech Republic, have recorded new temperature highs, while France has faced significant pressure on health services and funeral facilities amid sustained high temperatures. France's health minister placed an emergency order for 30,000 air conditioners.
Industry estimates cited in the report put Europe's annual domestic air-conditioner production capacity at about 3.2 million units, while market demand this year is expected to exceed 10 million, leaving a shortfall of roughly 6.8 million units. Against that backdrop, China has become a key source of supply. Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed that China's air-conditioner exports to the European Union reached USD 3.76 billion in the first half of the year, up 43.2% year-on-year and marking a record high for the same period. The report also said that from April to June, more than 100,000 complete air-conditioning units were shipped to Europe via freight rail services between China and Europe operated by China Railway Guangzhou Group.
Retail sales have also spiked. Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard as saying that on 22 June, the company sold 30,000 air conditioners and fans in a single day, roughly 1,000 times normal daily volume. On second-hand platforms, sellers have listed near-new portable air conditioners at prices as high as three times those of new units.
Europe's air-conditioner penetration remains relatively low—about 20% of households, citing International Energy Agency (IEA) figures, with penetration around 5% in the UK and 3% in Germany. Beyond climate and historical adoption patterns, the report highlighted structural barriers to installation, including approvals for exterior façade modifications, requirements for certified technicians, and high installation costs—estimated at EUR 1,500–2,000 per unit—along with long peak-season waiting times.
As a result, "no-install" or easier-to-deploy products have gained traction. Midea's PortaSplit is an example of a mobile split system designed for quicker self-installation and compliance with local building and noise requirements, saying the model has been in short supply during the heatwave and has traded at large premiums on secondary markets.
There is a "heat dome" pattern contributing to extreme temperatures in parts of Europe, with some areas reaching 44°C, and a conservative estimate was cited that the heatwave had caused about 15,000 deaths by the end of the previous month. Experts quoted in the report said extreme summer heat in Europe is increasingly shifting from an exception to a more frequent occurrence, linked to climate-warming effects.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao)
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