Chinese mobile air‑conditioners spark over 70% sales surge in Western Europe

Europe is experiencing unprecedented heatwaves, with temperatures breaking historic records and prompting heat warnings across many countries. Home air‑conditioning penetration remains low—about 20% of households—due to longstanding climate patterns and building constraints.

Chinese manufacturers have introduced portable split‑type units that require no wall penetrations, allowing indoor units to be moved freely while the outdoor unit sits on balconies or the ground. This has led to rapid growth in Western European markets; sales in France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom have risen more than 70% year‑on‑year, creating queues at retailers and shortages of stock. A company spokesperson said factories are working overtime to meet demand, and exports of Chinese home air‑conditioning to the region are projected to grow by 9.7% in the first five months of 2026.

At the same time, Europe is expanding its cooling capacity through reversible heat‑pump installations as part of a broader decarbonisation push. Government subsidies encourage households to replace fossil‑fuel heating with electric heat pumps, which also provide efficient summer cooling. This policy-driven rollout means millions of homes are gaining air‑conditioning capability without purchasing separate units, complementing the surge in dedicated portable AC sales.