China’s air-conditioned lesson for Europe’s killer heat wave

Europe’s scramble for Chinese air conditioners is not really a story about China, or even about trade. It is a story about what happens when climate change disruption arrives faster than housing policy, public infrastructure and industrial strategy can adapt.

The numbers from this summer’s record heat are striking. China’s air-conditioner exports to the European Union reached US$3.76 billion in the first half of 2026, up 43.2% year on year, with portable units surging more than 70%. Demand has been strongest for installation-light machines from Chinese makers such as Midea, Haier, Gree and Dreame.

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