Jun 27, 2026

A "deadly" heatwave is sweeping across the European continent. It is estimated to have caused around 15,000 deaths, many of them older people living in apartments and care homes without air conditioning. Amid the heatwave, air conditioners made in China have been almost snapped up across major shopping malls in Europe. On social media, many European users have remarked that "Chinese air conditioners are affordable" and that "Europe should import more." Scenes like this deserve careful reflection from EU policymakers.

Since 2020, extreme heat events have become significantly more frequent in Europe. Take 2025 as an example: temperatures in parts of Western Europe exceeded 46 C in June, while areas near the Arctic Circle experienced the longest heatwave on record, lasting three consecutive weeks in July. Another telling figure is that during the 2025 cooling year (a term used in the air-conditioning industry, referring to August 2024 to July 2025), Europe's imports of Chinese air conditioners surged by about 40 percent, making it the primary driver of global growth in China's AC exports. Beyond air conditioners, a wide range of Chinese-made cooling products - from fan-equipped sun hats to handheld fans and cooling blankets - have also gained popularity across Europe.

This forms the real backdrop to the recent hype among some European politicians over the so-called "trade deficit with China." For many European households, the requirements are straightforward: reasonable prices, easy installation, energy efficiency, and minimal disruption to older housing structures. In response to these practical and pressing needs, Chinese companies such as Midea Group, Haier, and Gree have introduced well-adapted products that are well received. These are affordable solutions chosen by European consumers under the real constraints of extreme heat, aging housing, and limited budgets.

Read more:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1364551.shtml