In late June 2026, extreme heat swept across Europe. Temperatures in western France hit 43°C, setting a new national record for June; southwest England recorded 36.7°C on June 25, a new June high for the United Kingdom; and the Iberian Peninsula in Spain saw its highest average daily temperatures on record for the month. On June 25, over 100 million people in Europe were exposed to temperatures above 35°C.
Amid the heat, Chinese air conditioners have become a scarce commodity. With low air-conditioner penetration in Europe, consumers and businesses rushed to buy portable and fixed units. One European buyer spent two days searching across the EU for a Chinese air conditioner, eventually driving 200 kilometers to buy the last one at a price increased by 100 euros. Midea’s PortaSplit air conditioner saw surging demand and sold out in some channels, with second-hand market prices even exceeding those of new units. In May, Midea’s sales through German e-commerce channels rose about 37 percent year-on-year, while shipments in Spain and France jumped 108 percent. Some users even developed a “stock-tracking website” to monitor real-time inventory of the model across major German retail chains.
