In June, many regions in Europe experienced record-high temperatures. To cope with the extreme heat, there was a surge in sales of air conditioners in those areas.
From June 24 to 26, the UK set three consecutive days of record-high temperatures, with the highest recorded at 37.3 degrees Celsius on the 26th. In Germany, two consecutive days from the 26th to 27th saw record-high temperatures, reaching 41.5 degrees Celsius. June 23 became the hottest day in France since national meteorological records began in 1947, and this record was broken again on the 24th. In Spain, the average temperature on the 22nd and 23rd was 7.1 degrees Celsius higher than normal for this time of year, setting a new record for the highest average temperature in a single day in June.
According to First Finance, a Chinese company has launched a convenient-to-install mobile split-air conditioner, which has recently become a "summer cooling wonder" in Europe and sold out quickly.
"Never would I have imagined that this summer, fate has handed China a taste of French air conditioning... ..." A Chinese who had been living in France recently shared on WeChat Moments, "This past summer, in Paris, finding a mobile split-type AC unit in China has become impossible. Shops are running out."
Chinese mobile air conditioners are also in short supply in other European countries such as Germany and Austria, which have been hit by heatwaves. According to customs data, in the first five months of this year, China's export of air conditioners to three Western European countries—France, the Netherlands, and Belgium—has doubled year-on-year. The export volumes of air conditioners to Central and Southern European countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Germany have also seen significant growth, with double-digit increases.
According to news reports, under the heatwave, Chinese air conditioners have been “scattered by demand” in major European stores. Some consumers spent two days searching across the entire European Union; they traveled 200 kilometers to finally buy one unit, and the price increased by 100 euros. Many European netizens have spoken up for Chinese air conditioners, praising their excellent value for money, and calling for more imports from China.
According to Xinhua analysis, many European households still do not have air conditioning systems. This is due to both architectural limitations and institutional and cost factors. Many old buildings do not have space for air conditioning ducts. In some historical buildings, to protect the exterior facade, the installation of outdoor units often requires the consent of the property owners and approval from municipal authorities.
In addition, the high usage costs also make many people hesitate. Take Berlin as an example; the electricity price for residents is about 0.4 euros per kilowatt-hour. An ordinary household air conditioner runs for 8 hours a day, which means the electricity bill increases by 100 to 150 euros per month.
For a considerable period in the past, European summers were generally mild, and residents did not rely on air conditioning to cool themselves. This gradually became part of architectural standards and social attitudes. In Europe, there is extensive debate regarding whether air conditioning should be promoted, and it has even become a topic of discussion among some political figures.
