As record heat grips the globe, Chinese-made cooling appliances are in the spotlight, bringing comfort from Europe to Africa.
The summer of 2025 has been brutally hot, with many regions around the world suffering temperatures of over 40°C. As heatwaves stretch longer and stronger than ever before, demand for cooling appliances has surged both at home and abroad. In response, China’s factories are running at full speed, producing millions of air conditioners and fans that are being shipped worldwide.
What makes this boom different is not just the scale of production but also the innovation. Chinese companies are offering AI-powered, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly air conditioners, some of which can even store solar power or respond to voice commands. Fans, too, are being redesigned into portable, powerful devices that appeal to a wide range of customers. These products are finding strong demand in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.
Inside China, sales have also skyrocketed. Online platforms report over 60% growth in air conditioner purchases compared with last year, with northern regions—once considered “too cool for AC”—now seeing record orders. To meet the demand, major brands have rushed supplies northward and even sent teams of installation engineers across provinces.
Globally, the impact is clear. In just the first seven months of 2025, China exported air conditioners worth more than 46 billion yuan, with exports to Europe rising nearly 30%. This shift is changing habits: in countries that once avoided air conditioning, it is becoming a necessity.
Looking to the future, the International Energy Agency predicts the number of air conditioners in the European Union will double by 2050. Since China already produces around 80% of the world’s air conditioners, it is set to play a decisive role in shaping the global “cool economy.” The growth of smart, green, and affordable cooling will not only provide comfort but also safeguard health and productivity in a warming world.
Key Concepts
- Cool Economy: The fast-growing global market for cooling products, driven by climate change and rising living standards.
- AI Energy Saving: Smart systems that cut electricity use by more than 30%, making cooling cheaper and more sustainable.
- Global Reach: China’s ability to supply cooling products quickly to markets across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
