A prolonged heatwave across Europe in May and June 2026 caused record-breaking temperatures that sharply increased demand for air conditioners from Asian manufacturers including South Korea's Samsung Electronics, China's Midea, and Japan's Mitsubishi Electric [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Sales jumped markedly in key European markets such as Italy, Spain, France, and Germany. Shipments to Spain and France more than doubled, rising over 100% year-on-year in May 2026. German e-commerce sales of air conditioners increased by about 37% compared to May 2025 [1, 2, 3, 5].
Samsung Electronics forecast sustained strong demand through the peak cooling season, with temperatures expected to climb further from June onward. The company said, "With temperatures expected to rise further from June onward, we expect sustained demand through the peak cooling season" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
China's Midea saw its PortaSplit portable air conditioner sell out at many outlets in late May, with resold units commanding prices above new ones, reflecting exceptional demand. Midea noted, "A heatwave in the final two weeks of May significantly boosted sales, particularly for the PortaSplit air-conditioner, which sold out in some channels" [1, 2, 3, 5].
LG Electronics has kept its air conditioner production lines running at full capacity since April 2026 to meet summer demand in Korea and international markets [1, 2, 3, 5].
Air conditioning remains uncommon across Europe, where ownership stands around 20%, far behind major Asian cities where AC is widespread in buildings and transport. Older European buildings often require costly and complicated installations, with estimated costs over €1,000 (about US$1,137 or SGD 1,474) per unit [1, 2, 3, 5].
The heatwave period from May 14 to May 31 saw a notable spike in sales volume, especially for Midea's PortaSplit. Production capacity was already maxed out by April as manufacturers prepared for the summer season. Key markets including Italy, Spain, and France posted double-digit growth in AC sales during the first half of 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
As temperatures continue rising through June, Asian air conditioner makers anticipate demand to remain high for the remainder of the cooling season [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
