The unprecedented heatwave in Europe has driven a sharp surge in air conditioner sales among Asian manufacturers, including major brands from China, South Korea, and Japan.
Asian air conditioner manufacturers have experienced rapid sales growth, especially leading companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, China's Midea, and Japan's Mitsubishi Electric. Samsung Electronics reported increased sales following the intensification of the European heatwave.
Samsung Electronics told Reuters it expects demand for air conditioners to continue rising as temperatures began climbing in June and the peak summer season approaches.
The company stated that key markets like Italy, Spain, and France saw double-digit growth in air conditioner sales during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.
LG Electronics noted that one of its air conditioner factories in South Korea has been operating at full capacity since April to meet rising demand both domestically and internationally, especially in Europe, which is currently facing severe heatwaves.
China's major appliance maker Midea revealed that its PortaSplit air conditioners have become extremely popular, with the heatwave during the last two weeks of May significantly boosting sales.
The company indicated that some sales channels sold out entirely, and the strong demand caused secondhand prices to exceed those of new products—a rare situation in the appliance market.
Additionally, e-commerce sales in Germany during May rose by about 37% year-on-year, while deliveries in Spain and France increased by as much as 108%.
Mitsubishi Electric reported a clear increase in air conditioner sales across Europe, particularly in France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany, all facing intense heatwaves.
The surge in air conditioner demand reflects changing consumer behavior in Europe, which is clearly feeling the impacts of climate change.
However, installing air conditioners in Europe remains challenging because most buildings are old, making installation complicated, time-consuming, and costly.
Midea stated that installation costs in Europe can exceed 1,000 euros, or roughly over 37,000 baht, limiting accessibility for many households.
Data from the International Energy Agency show that currently only about 20% of European households have air conditioners, which is very low compared to Asian countries.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) noted that Europe's temperature is rising at more than twice the global average, causing heatwaves to become more frequent and severe each year. This has transformed air conditioners from a nonessential luxury in many European countries into a necessity for daily life.
Source:CNN
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