Asian air-conditioner companies Samsung Electronics (South Korea), Midea (China), and Mitsubishi Electric (Japan) are experiencing a significant sales boom due to a record-breaking heatwave in Europe [1, 2, 3, 4]. Europeans are increasingly buying portable and fixed air conditioners to cope with the heat despite costly and complex installation, especially in older buildings where prices can exceed €1,000 [1, 2, 3].
Air conditioning is common across major Asian cities—in buildings, transport, and homes—but remains rare in Europe, where only about 20% of households currently own units, according to the International Energy Agency [1, 2, 3, 4]. Key European markets such as Italy, Spain, and France recorded double-digit sales growth of Asian air conditioners in the first half of 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4].
Sales through German e-commerce platforms rose approximately 37% in May 2026 compared with a year earlier, while shipments in Spain and France jumped 108% over the same period [1, 2, 3]. Midea’s PortaSplit air-conditioner saw soaring demand during a heatwave in the final two weeks of May 2026, selling out in some sales channels and pushing second-hand prices above the cost of new units [1, 2, 3].
LG Electronics in South Korea has run its air-conditioner production lines at full capacity since April to meet the seasonal demand surge [1, 2, 3]. Samsung Electronics said, "With temperatures expected to rise further from June onward, we expect sustained demand through the peak cooling season" [1, 2, 3, 4].
Despite the surge in demand, installation costs remain a barrier for many Europeans. Older buildings often require expensive modifications, keeping units out of reach for some households [1, 2, 3].
The sales boost traces back to the May 15–31 heatwave in Europe that sharply increased air-conditioner purchases, especially of Midea’s PortaSplit model [1, 2, 3]. Retailers and manufacturers are following this trend closely as summer peaks. Samsung and other Asian manufacturers are preparing for continued strong sales through coming months [1, 2, 3, 4].
