en.Wedoany.com Reported - Since June this year, extreme high temperatures have hit many parts of Europe, driving a significant surge in China's air conditioner exports to the region. Customs data shows that in the first half of the year, China's total air conditioner exports to the EU amounted to $3.76 billion, a year-on-year increase of 43.2%, with June alone seeing a 72.8% surge. The category of installation-free mobile air conditioners grew by over 70%.
This export boom has boosted the A-share white goods sector, with the Xinhua Overseas Consumption Index rising 6.05% this week. Shares of Midea Group, Gree Electric Appliances, and Haier Smart Home rose by 4.18%, 3.54%, and 4.36%, respectively, with growth in overseas business becoming a market focus.
The European air conditioner market has long faced structural contradictions. Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that the current penetration rate of household air conditioners in Europe is about 20%, far lower than nearly 90% in the United States. Among Southern European countries, Italy's penetration rate is around 50%, Spain's about 40%, and most of Northwestern Europe is even lower. Industry insiders point out that the core pain points limiting penetration include strict building regulations that prohibit drilling holes in exterior walls; installation costs ranging from €800 to €1,900, often exceeding the price of the equipment; and high energy consumption and noise levels of older mobile air conditioners in a high electricity price environment. The EU's F-gas environmental regulations continue to tighten, and the slow transformation of local manufacturers has led to a supply-demand gap that relies on imports to fill.
In response to these market pain points, major Chinese white goods companies have introduced differentiated product strategies. Midea Group has implemented a "Local for Local" global synergy strategy, adopting a model of "R&D in Germany, design in Italy, and manufacturing in China," launching the PortaSplit portable split air conditioner. The outdoor unit weighs less than 10 kg, requires no drilling in exterior walls, is compatible with various European housing types, and can be assembled in 15 minutes. According to Xiong Xueqin, Midea's European regional director for air conditioners, the product's B2B shipments in Europe this year exceeded 200,000 units, doubling year-on-year, with growth rates of over 70% in markets such as France, Spain, Germany, and the UK.
Gree Electric Appliances focuses on eco-friendly refrigerants and wide temperature range technology, adopting a model of "core supply chain in China plus local warehousing and operations in Europe." According to Wu Bin, head of European regional business, Gree has made strategic moves in areas such as eco-friendly refrigerant R290, non-degradation at extreme temperatures, and photovoltaic direct drive. In terms of channels, Gree operates large logistics warehouses in Spain, Italy, and Turkey. In the first half of the year, Gree's terminal sales in France grew by 50% year-on-year, with orders for wall-mounted air conditioners scheduled through the end of August.
Haier Group has been deeply rooted in the European market for over 30 years, leveraging its Qingdao Jiaozhou Lighthouse Factory and a new production base in Thailand, set to be added in 2026, to form a dual-source supply chain, avoiding risks from a single region. In terms of channels, Yu Shipeng, general manager of Haier Smart Home's overseas household air conditioner business, stated that the company operates a dual-track strategy of own-brand retail and major customer customization, developing exclusive models for Italy's energy-saving subsidies and Spain's heating needs. From January to June this year, Haier Europe's overall HVAC revenue grew by nearly 20%, with its own-brand household air conditioner segment increasing by 24%.
