Europe is experiencing an unprecedented heat wave in June 2026.
Carrefour’s chief executive, Alexander Bombar, confirmed that 30,000 air conditioners and fans had been sold through its channels on June 22nd alone (as of 18.30 AM) , about 1,000 times the usual rate.
Ifeng.com finance’s“Company Research Institute” learned from a number of European local people that sales of several Chinese air conditioning brands have surged in the local market, with demand for some models outstripping supply, and there has been a price increase, china is once again taking Europe by storm.
(photo: Xinhua)
01
Europe’s heat wave has killed hundreds
According to reference information, the heat wave sweeping Europe this week has killed hundreds of people, Spain has the highest death toll of any country, and the temperature in many parts of the country has exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, meanwhile, heat records are being broken across the continent.
Germany also suffered a historic heat wave. Germany recorded a record high temperature of 41.3 degrees Celsius Monday, Xinhua reported, citing preliminary data from the Deutscher Wetterdienst.
France is also in the heat wave. Data from the global network showed that as of the 22nd of the same month, 49 of the 96 provinces in the French mainland had issued a red alert for high temperatures, and more than 40 provinces had simultaneously raised an orange alert for high temperatures, with temperatures in large areas exceeding 40 °C. The 23-25 June 2026 was the hottest three days in France since 1947, with 188 heat records broken on June 25 alone, with temperatures approaching 45 °C in the André Province, according to media reports.
Extreme heat directly disrupted social functioning: many primary and secondary schools suspended, inter-city train temporary suspension, all kinds of large-scale entertainment activities were canceled. As temperatures hit 40 °C or even 45 °C in the summer of 2026, the issue of whether to install air-conditioning has moved from a simple lifestyle choice to a political flashpoint in France.
Proponents view air-conditioning as a public health necessity, while opponents see it as a maladaptation that exacerbates the climate crisis, arguing that its waste heat will exacerbate the urban heat island effect and increase carbon emissions.
Public data shows that air-conditioning penetration in France has long been lower than in the United States, Japan and other countries. Building renovation in historic cities such as Paris is also restricted by property rights, cultural protection and community rules. After all, the French heat wave in the summer of 2003 is thought to have killed more than 14,000 people, many of them elderly people living alone and vulnerable people in nursing homes, the French government and society were widely criticised for their lack of measures to deal with the heat.
For his part, French President Macron spoke out publicly, reminding the public to remain highly vigilant against extreme heat, calling on the whole society to care for the elderly and the vulnerable, and to follow official guidelines for preventing heatstroke, “We are going through a difficult time,” he said.
The heatwave is spreading far beyond that. Countries such as the UK, Denmark and Switzerland all set new records for the hottest temperatures since weather records began. More than 100 million people lived in Europe on June 25 alone, when temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius, Xinhua reported.
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Why is air-conditioning penetration low in Europe?
Climate, cost and installation
For many years, the number of air conditioners in European homes is much lower than that in the Asian market. The serious imbalance between supply and demand of refrigeration equipment under extreme high temperatures is due to multiple factors that have formed over a long period of time.
According to a CNN report on the 23rd, the overall air conditioning penetration rate in Europe remains low, at about 20% for a long time. The main reasons include: first, the climate characteristics have long been affected by the North Atlantic Current, europe is relatively mild in summer and winter, and building conditions are limited. A large number of houses in Europe were built in the mid-20th century or earlier, generally lack central cooling system infrastructure, and the buildings themselves are relatively old. There are also a large number of old buildings under protection, the application process for air-conditioning is cumbersome and difficult.
(source: Web)
An ethnic Chinese who has lived in Italy for 23 years told ifeng.com’s“Company Research Institute” the core reason: in previous years, the overall temperature in Europe was mild, there was very little sustained heat, and the demand for people to install air conditioning was already weak, but this year the local temperature is nearly 10 degrees Celsius higher than the same period in previous years, high temperature normal just forced refrigeration demand outbreak.
She also corrected the“European households without air-conditioning” extreme impression: Rome new area household air-conditioning penetration rate has reached 70% , their old and relatives are basically equipped with air-conditioning, many families even install two; However, the regional differences are very obvious. The installation rate in northern Italy and northern Europe is low. In the north, due to the large temperature difference between day and night, the temperature drops rapidly at night. The climate in northern Europe is cool all the year round, and people rarely buy air conditioning.
High installation costs are also an obstacle. According to the chinese-italian, the cost of installing a local split air conditioner is generally between 3,000 and 5,000 euros. A resident of southern France also told the company Research Institute of ifeng.com Finance and economics that, local one drags a wall to hang air-conditioning to want 400 euros above only installation cost, the air-conditioning installation cost of oneself comes down all also have 2000 euros.
(French residents snapping up air conditioners, fans, etc. , via the internet)
“In addition, building regulations restrict the installation of air-conditioning units in some old cities and special districts. The approval process is cumbersome, further reducing residents’ willingness to install,” said the chinese-italian.
Other details showed that there was a bias in the information on the casualties caused by the current heat wave. The Chinese told ifeng.com’s company research institute that according to her observation, drowning accounts for a relatively high proportion of officially reported heat-related deaths, in fact, deaths from heat alone are not as severe as the reports suggest.
Finally, energy costs and environmental policies are limiting the availability of air-conditioning. In Europe, where electricity prices are high, the high energy costs of air-conditioning make it difficult for many people to afford high electricity bills. At the same time, the widespread use of energy-intensive air-conditioners conflicts with the EU’s goal of carbon neutrality. The cost of installing and maintaining an air-conditioner is even higher than the price of the unit itself.
(air-conditioning in Europe, via the Internet)
But an ongoing extreme heat wave is changing all that. As hot weather becomes more frequent and intense, the demand for refrigeration equipment in Europe is being sharply awakened.
03
Home-made cooling devices are flying off the shelves in Europe
Midea and gree air conditioners are hard to come by
European consumers are snapping up cooling equipment as they struggle to cope with the extreme heat.
Many people in the French city center of Toulouse are snapping up fans, air conditioners and other cooling appliances as the heat wave approaches, AFP reported. Orders for cooling products made in China, such as hand-held fans, mobile air conditioners and ice makers, have surged on cross-border ecommerce platforms.
Chinese air-conditioning brands are doing particularly well in Europe. A German resident to the phoenix financial“Company research institute” revealed that the United States now split air conditioning in Europe in short supply, the price increased significantly. “8,000 u, which was 599 Euros on June 20, is now up to 1,484 euros. Midea’s Amazon has also increased the price from 12,000 u to 1,190 euros.”
The German resident told ifeng.com that Midea’s air conditioners sell well because of“Low noise, high energy efficiency, and the external unit can be placed on the balcony or window sill without damage.”. By contrast, “Most mobile air conditioners in Europe are completely unrenovated, have all-in-one units, are very noisy, and only have a large tube to vent the hot air outside, and sometimes the hot air flows back.”
A vendor service in Frankfurt, Germany, identified itself as, the United States air-conditioning prices“More from replenishment costs. Goods have to come out of Shunde, Foshan, shipping is certainly too late, it is estimated that Air Gaca mixed replenishment.”. Another netizen said, “It’s very likely that the local dealers will make all the money and the manufacturers will take the blame.”. Another netizen said that the original price of Midea was 1,199 euros, and that Amazon’s previous low price was a campaign. “Midea can not sell lower than other third parties,” he said. “What they mainly do in Europe is TOB, not TOC.”
La même scène s ‘est répété en France. China’s mobile split air conditioners are hard to find and stores are out of stock after the summer in Paris, according to a Chinese expat in France who shared his comments on wechat, local media reported. “Never surprise, this summer, life is given by Chinese air conditioning. . . . . . .” the Chinese people so sigh.
Gree air-conditioners are also enjoying explosive growth in Europe.
A gree staff told ifeng finance“Company Research Institute”, by this Summer Europe extreme heat continues to spread, regional cooling appliances market ushered in significant growth. Relying on excellent product adaptability, localization channel layout and perfect after-sales service system, from January to June 2026, Gree’s terminal sales in France increased by 50% year-on-year, and the market heat continued to rise.
According to the staff, for European residential units, installation conditions and consumption habits, gree precision layout diversification of refrigeration product matrix. Among them, the installation-free, plug-and-play mobile air conditioning, with its core advantages of flexibility, convenience and strong adaptability, is highly compatible with the European market usage scenario. At present, regional channels have been fully sold out, overseas agents are making every effort to speed up replenishment and ensure market supply. At the same time, Gree wall-mounted air conditioners with the advantages of energy saving, quietness, stability and durability continue to be recognized by European users, and terminal orders continue to be full, the installation schedule for new customers in the French region has been extended to the end of August.
A Chinese restaurant owner in Italy told ifeng finance“Institute of the company”, the current high temperature in Italy, “Gree air conditioning sales better, very hot at noon, but Italy at night cool fast
In addition, TCL Air Conditioning President Chen Shaolin also publicly told the media that: “In Europe, some air conditioning products have sold out.”
From affordable and portable hand-held fans and ice makers, to highly adaptable split air conditioners and mobile refrigeration equipment free of installation, relying on mature manufacturing capabilities, product design adapted to overseas scenarios, made in China to help people beat heatwaves in Europe.
The extreme heat wave sweeping Europe is reshaping the way Europeans live. Once considered unnecessary, air-conditioning is becoming a necessity. In this wave of cooling demand, made in China by virtue of technological advantages and cost-effective, is occupying an increasingly important position in the European market.