Europe is experiencing its most severe heatwave on record, causing Chinese air conditioners to become best-sellers and run out of stock.
On 17 July 2026, BBC reported that this year’s heatwave across Europe has led many people to buy air conditioners as numerous areas face record-high temperatures. In particular, some German cities have seen temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius, with further heatwaves expected before summer ends.
One of the most popular products is a portable split air conditioner from a Chinese electrical appliance company, designed to meet building regulations in many European countries. The rapidly rising demand has caused these units to sell out in many stores, with resales on secondhand websites at prices about 750 euros (around 28,000 baht), two to three times higher than normal. A website has even been created to track where the product is still available.
Experts note that the key advantage of this type of air conditioner is that it can be installed without drilling into building walls, making it suitable for Europe’s old cities with strict historic preservation rules. The lightweight external unit can be installed at windows independently.
This growing popularity indicates that Europeans are increasingly adopting air conditioning as heatwaves become more frequent and intense due to climate change. Consequently, a previously little-known Chinese brand in the European market has become one of the beneficiaries of this year’s extreme weather.
Source: BBC