As the world experiences record heat waves, China has become the go-to destination for air conditioners. Europeans, who have been slower to adopt AC, are now lining up to buy China-made units, with major brands like Midea, Gree, and Haier reporting higher sales overseas.

Global Demand for AC

The demand for air conditioners is not limited to Europe, as the US and other parts of the world are also relying on China for cooling solutions. According to Euromonitor International, Chinese brands account for 50% of the US market and 65% of the global market.

European consumers have been slower to adopt air conditioning due to high energy costs, expensive installation fees, and restrictions on retrofitting older buildings. However, the climate crisis is changing this, with many Europeans now seeking cooling solutions to combat the heat.

China’s Advantage

Chinese companies have been able to capitalize on the high demand for air conditioners, thanks to their flexible supply chains and ability to rapidly develop new, localized products. Midea Group, one of China’s largest home appliance brands, has designed a portable AC unit specifically for the European market, which has sold over 200,000 units this year.

The surge in demand for air conditioners has also led to discussions about trade between the EU and China, with the EU seeking to address the record trade imbalance of nearly 360 billion euros. However, with China’s exports of high-tech goods like batteries, electric cars, and solar panels driving its export strength, it remains to be seen how the trade negotiations will play out.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.