Europe’s Heatwave Fuels Air Conditioner Demand, Boosting Chinese Exports
- brg_news_room
- Jul 18
- 1 min read
Germany: Europe’s recurring summer heatwaves fuels air conditioner adoption across the region, a market traditionally resistant to cooling systems. Only about 20% of European households have air conditioning, with Germany below 3% and Britain at just 5%. Barriers such as high rental rates, electricity costs of 0.30–0.40 € (USD 0.35–0.46) per kilowatt-hour, and strict building regulations have historically limited adoption. A typical 1.5-horsepower unit in Germany sells for 600–800 € (USD 702–936), while installation can exceed 1,500 € (USD 1,755). However, soaring temperatures up to 46°C in Southern Spain and growing health concerns are pushing air conditioning from luxury to necessity. The International Energy Agency projects EU air conditioner units to reach 275 million by 2050, more than double 2019 levels.
Chinese appliance manufacturers are capitalising on this shift. Exports of air conditioners from China to the EU and Britain totaled USD 1.39 billion in the first five months of 2025, a 20.25% year-on-year increase. Several brands reported strong growth: one saw first-half 2025 sales in Italy rise over 20% and double in Hungary; another experienced a 35% year-on-year sales increase in Europe, including a 68% surge in France.
Source: English News
