WUHU, China — In late June, a devastating heatwave swept across Europe, leaving a trail of extreme climate data in its wake. The continent recorded over 10,000 excess deaths, more than 9,000 of them among citizens aged 65 and older, during what the World Weather Attribution group classified as the most severe heatwave ever recorded in the studied regions.
As European retailers watched their shelves empty of cooling appliances, Chinese manufacturing giant Midea demonstrated a staggering feat of industrial agility. Confronted with an emergency order for 20,000 portable air conditioners from a French client, the home appliance giant did what no European manufacturer could: it stood up a brand-new assembly line in a single day.
On July 7, Midea launched the new production line at its flagship portable AC plant in Wuhu, Anhui province. The company completed the requirement of 20,000 units within 3.5 days, with a daily unit production of 6000 units.
Midea Spares No Expense to Meet Sudden French Demand
The sudden French demand hit Midea at the worst possible time. The manufacturer’s domestic order books were already full to meet China’s own peak-season summer demand.
To pull off the European order, Midea management reportedly instructed supply chain and production teams to “spare no expense,” authorizing the use of high-speed rail and air transport to instantly source scarce, bottleneck components.
The logistical sprint did not stop at the factory gate. To bypass congested ports and the lengthy ocean voyages that typically define global trade, Midea utilized cross-border land transportation for the first time.
The fleet of trucks is expected to deliver the units directly to the French customer’s warehouse in roughly 15 days, slashing traditional sea freight shipping times in half.
Europe’s Untapped AC Market
While the humanitarian cost of the heatwave is difficult, the structural lack of climate control in Europe presents an unprecedented commercial frontier. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), air-conditioning penetration across Europe is a meager 20% on average, compared with over 90% in the United States and Japan. Only Spain and Italy have crossed the 50% threshold.
But this huge structural potential is an opportunity for the appliance-makers:
Sales Surge
Sales of Midea’s Europe-specific portable split AC models have already doubled this year, exceeding 200,000 units. The units have completely sold out across Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Platform Growth
E-commerce titan Alibaba reported triple-digit growth in sales of cooling fans and air conditioners on its international platforms.
Global Rivalry
Competitors are also reaping the rewards. Samsung reported double-digit sales growth in France, Spain, and Italy for the first half of the year, while Mitsubishi Electric flagged intense sales volumes in the UK and Germany.
Regulatory and Cost Barriers
Amid the rising temperatures, European households are having a hard time maintaining cool temperatures indoors. Why? Due to a severe shortage of certified HVAC technicians and the high cost of installation.
The cost of labor alone for a traditional split-system AC in Europe can exceed $1,137 (€1,000), often more than the air conditioner unit itself.
This high barrier to permanent installations is precisely why Midea’s agile focus on high-performance, easily self-installed portable split units has captured the market.
By bypassing the installation bottleneck and backing it up with a supply chain that can pivot in 24 hours, the Chinese giant has set a formidable new standard for global retail logistics.