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Early on July 17, a terrace fire broke out beside Milan Cathedral, ignited by a faulty air conditioner. Outdoor soft furnishings intensified the blaze and generated massive black smoke, confusing local residents. Fire crews deployed four vehicles and spent nearly three hours putting out the fire, with no injuries reported. A nearby road was temporarily shut down for rescue work and has reopened. Amid Italy’s ongoing heatwave, fire authorities warned residents of air conditioning fire risks and released a set of safety operation guidelines, as electrical fires triggered by cooling equipment occur frequently every summer.

In July 2026, a heartwarming story went viral online: a French man bought a drill-free portable Chinese air conditioner and shipped it via airline checked luggage after his business trip to Shanghai, bringing it all the way back to Europe to cool down his 93-year-old mother living in Paris. His colleague shared the full story on social media. Europe has been gripped by brutal heatwaves recently, with temperatures exceeding 40°C across large swathes of France, leading to a severe shortage of air conditioning units. Most old European buildings are protected by heritage rules that ban wall drilling for traditional split air conditioners. Even if portable air conditioners are available locally, they cost nearly 8,000 RMB and require long waiting lists, plus steep fees for installation and official approval. The traveler’s elderly mother had only an ice fan to beat the heat, which offered poor cooling and raised indoor humidity that harmed senior citizens’ health. His colleagues suggested purchasing a portable air conditioner in China to take back to France. The French man picked a compact portable AC unit that meets airline baggage limits. He booked a business-class flight with generous free checked baggage allowance, so no extra freight fee was charged for the appliance. The total cost came to just 1,412 RMB: 1,260 RMB for the air conditioner itself, 130 RMB for wooden protective packaging at the airport, and 22 RMB for a high-power power adapter compatible with European voltage. The unit contains no lithium batteries and is not classified as dangerous goods for air travel. It passed security inspection at Shanghai Airport without issues. The traveler first flew to Barcelona, then transported the air conditioner onward to his family home in Paris. Chinese drill-free portable air conditioners are now flying off shelves across Europe, favored for their affordable price, tool-free installation and low power consumption. This cross-border luggage story not only shows the man’s filial piety, but also highlights the unique strengths of Chinese manufacturing — cost-effective products perfectly tailored to the living conditions of old European residences.

To be honest, many people once thought Chinese goods were nothing but cheap. Yet as centuries-old European houses turn into sweltering steam boxes amid the heatwave, our drill-free air conditioners and neck-hung fans have come to the rescue. Items that cost merely dozens of yuan domestically sell for nearly a thousand yuan in Paris and fly off shelves, while secondhand portable air conditioners are resold for as high as 5,000 euros. This is no price gouging; it is innovation that has cracked open a notoriously tough market. What strikes me most is not the foreign exchange we earn, but how we have redefined "global influence". For decades, Europeans living in ancient buildings, where wall drilling is prohibited and full air conditioning is unaffordable, have resigned themselves to sweltering summers. Chinese manufacturers stepped in with a solution: instead of renovating your house, we redesign our products. This brought U-shaped window air conditioners requiring no wall drilling, mist-spray sun umbrellas, and portable coolers that maintain low temperatures for 40 hours straight. Without forcing Europeans to remove a single window, we delivered the coolest summer breeze they have ever felt. In the past, we only exported physical goods. Today, we export industrial standards, customized solutions, and the capability to help people live a decent life. When district chiefs in Paris regard securing Chinese cooling appliances as a political achievement, and German programmers build AI bots to snap up our inventory, it is clear that Made-in-China’s global influence no longer lies on price tags in shopping malls. Instead, it exists in the comfortable 26°C that lets people sleep soundly through every sweltering summer night.

Persistent extreme heatwaves have swept across Europe, yet air conditioners are in short supply and sold at exorbitant local prices, unaffordable for many ordinary residents. Locals have come up with all kinds of inventive tricks to beat the heat. Footage shared by numerous netizens shows people firing up DJI drones to generate airflow from fast-spinning propellers, using them as makeshift cooling fans. Other low-cost heat relief methods include cold water circulation cooling and DIY simple sunshades. This predicament stems from two factors. For one thing, Europe used to enjoy mild summer temperatures, leading to low domestic demand for air conditioning and underdeveloped local cooling appliance industries. For another, sky-high energy costs deter many households from buying air conditioners, as steep electricity bills would follow even if they managed to purchase a unit. By contrast, air conditioners are widely accessible in China, with an abundant range of affordable cooling gadgets available. Our complete home appliance industrial chain lets ordinary people easily cope with sweltering summers, highlighting the solid foundation a full-fledged industrial system brings to daily life.

Summer 2026 brought scorching heatwaves across Europe. Thousands of miles away, handheld mini fans manufactured in Longgang, Shenzhen, have become runaway bestsellers throughout the continent. “Stock in local warehouses sold out in no time, forcing us to rush in restocks via air freight,” said Chen Liang, Marketing Director at JISULIFE, a Shenzhen-based tech firm. This year, its sales volume in Europe surged 3 to 5 times year-on-year. Inventories at Amazon’s German and French fulfillment centers were completely depleted; tens of thousands of prepared units vanished off shelves, prompting numerous buyers to arrange emergency air shipments directly from China. Every flight carries cool relief crafted in Shenzhen. This breakout success belongs to JISULIFE. For a decade, the company has specialized in portable fans with its roots firmly planted in Longgang District. It has shipped over 70 million units worldwide to more than 100 countries and regions, claiming the top global spot for USB mini fan sales for four consecutive years. 

Anhui Sanye Technology Co., Ltd., a high-tech manufacturer based in Taihu County, Anqing, officially released its complete HVAC product lineup this month. The portfolio includes double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner, portable air conditioner, negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner, covering factory workshops, commercial kitchens, warehouses and mobile cooling scenarios. With a focus on low-carbon manufacturing, the company builds zero-carbon factories with digital production lines to ensure stable quality and energy efficiency for all units.

Chinese air conditioners conquer Europe through card bugs. The reason why China's free to install air conditioners have become the top selling in Europe is due to temperatures of 40.6 ℃ and 41.7 ℃. Recently, a heatwave has swept across Europe, breaking high temperature records in many places. According to a report by CCTV News, Chinese made electric fans and small ice makers, known as "summer gods," are selling well in Europe due to the demand for high-temperature boosting and cooling products. Among them, "Shangguan" is a China Mobile split air conditioner. In order to grab one of these air conditioners, some people drove 200 kilometers at an additional price, and some second-hand air conditioners even exceeded the official new product pricing. This summer, the lives of Europeans were given by Chinese air conditioning, "has become a non joking expression. Doubting bugs, understanding bugs, and ultimately getting stuck with bugs, as long as you firmly believe that 'it's not here to defeat you, it's here to polish you', you will definitely find a way out. High temperatures are approaching, who doesn't stay cool and comfortable? It's not that European people don't like to use air conditioning, but rather that the installation threshold for air conditioning in Europe is extremely high. After the "layered reinforcement" of differentiated regulations in various countries, the difficulty of unifying standards has become a seemingly insurmountable gap. At this moment, the mobile split air conditioner manufactured by Chinese manufacturers has made a shining appearance as a "problem-solving expert", and with its precise customization, it perfectly adapts to the strict regulations of various European countries, selling directly out of stock and becoming the most beautiful child in this wave of heat. The "adaptability" in this is breathtaking: France requires certified personnel to inspect refrigerants weighing over 2kg, and its refrigerant capacity is exactly 1.99kg; Italy requires air conditioners to be installed by professionals, with a maximum fine of 100000 euros for unauthorized installation, and it does not require drilling or wall fittings, and can be used on shelves immediately; Germany stipulates that nighttime noise should not exceed 35 decibels, and its silent mode is precisely controlled at 35 decibels; Switzerland requires energy efficiency levels not lower than A++, and it has steadily entered the A++range. Behind the continuous efforts to overcome difficulties is the evolutionary history of Chinese manufacturing, where a generation of contract manufacturers continue to struggle. From studying rules to leading standards, there is hidden Chinese wisdom in the long-standing culture. Laozi once said in the Tao Te Ching, "The sage has no constant heart, but takes the hearts of the people as his heart." Truly wise people do not cling to their own opinions, but take the needs of the people as their starting point. At present, it is not a unique secret, but the simplest "people-oriented" approach. Combining Chinese manufacturing with multiple practices will undoubtedly provide Chinese answers to more world questions.

The recent heatwave in Europe has caused a stir, with over 150 million people being affected by the heat wave. However, the air conditioning penetration rate in local households is less than 20%, and a craze for air conditioning is unfolding simultaneously in various countries. It's interesting that in this wave of panic buying, the main players are no longer the once popular Japanese brands, but all Chinese household appliances. Twenty years ago, people preferred Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Panasonic when buying air conditioners, but now the art style has completely reversed. The ones being crazily robbed are Midea Gree and Hisense TCL， In German stores, Midea portable air conditioners have been out of stock for three weeks, and the second-hand market prices are even higher than new ones. The heat in France is even more exaggerated. Someone started a dispute outside the dealership in order to grab a Midea air conditioner, and the related video went viral on social media. This is not an accidental result of a wave of popularity, the rise of China's white goods industry has been brewing for many years. By 2025, China's air conditioning exports to the European Union and the United Kingdom will reach 1.39 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of over 20%. 80% to 90% of household air conditioners sold in the European market come from China. Hisense's sales in Western Europe have increased by over 20%, and the French market has more than doubled directly. TCL Western Europe grew by over 27% in the second quarter, while Midea's annual overseas revenue reached 195.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.9%. Looking at Japanese brands, only Daikin remains dominant in the high-end European market, with Daikin holding a 68% share in the French heat pump air conditioning market. But this also exposes the problem that Japanese air conditioners are trapped in an increasingly small high-end circle, and the mass market that ordinary people can afford has long been filled with Chinese brands. This is not just a change in the category of air conditioning. The production index of Japan's manufacturing industry has continued to decline in recent years, and the shipment of manufactured goods has not yet returned to its peak in 1991. Sony's televisions, Panasonic's refrigerators, Toshiba's air conditioners were once the quality benchmarks in the hearts of a generation, Now when searching for air conditioning on European e-commerce platforms, the first few pages are full of Chinese brands, and it takes a long time to flip through them to make a big profit. Of course, it's not that Japanese manufacturing has completely declined. Daikin's technological foundation is still there, and they can still excel in precision manufacturing and upstream component fields. But industrial competition can never be limited to niche high-end markets. Once the trend of the mass market takes shape, it is only a matter of time.

According to Singapore's Asia News website on June 29th, as record high temperatures hit Europe, Chinese air conditioning manufacturers are increasing production to meet the surging demand in European countries. According to reports, air conditioning has long been popular in major cities in Asia and the United States, but it is not common in many European households. Chinese air conditioning companies have stated that they are continuously increasing production to meet the market demand for mobile split air conditioners. Midea Group, a large Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer, stated that its Guangdong factory is producing its popular PortaSplit air conditioner day and night. According to the official website of Midea, PortaSplit air conditioners do not require installation, tools, or drilling, and are perfectly compatible with windows in most European buildings. Midea said, "In markets with relatively low air conditioning penetration rates such as France, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom, our air conditioning sales have all grown by over 70% year-on-year Another large Chinese electrical appliance manufacturer, Gree, reported that its air conditioning sales in European countries such as France, Italy, and Spain increased by over 40% year-on-year from January to June this year. The representative of the company stated that due to its simple installation, its mobile air conditioners are very popular among overseas customers, and global distributors have reported almost no remaining inventory. According to data from the Economic Complexity Observatory in the United States, China's air conditioning exports will reach nearly $28 billion by 2025, accounting for about 40% of the global air conditioning exports, highlighting China's dominant position in the global supply chain. Other cool products made in China, from sun hats with fans to handheld fans and summer quilts, are also widely popular overseas. According to official data from Chinese customs, in the first half of 2026, China's air conditioning exports to EU countries reached 3.76 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 43.2%, setting a new sales record. From January to May this year, China's air conditioning exports to France, the Netherlands, and Belgium more than doubled year-on-year, and exports to Spain and Germany also saw double-digit growth. The report also stated that news related to the European heatwave has sparked heated discussions on Chinese social media, with many netizens surprised that many European households do not have air conditioning. On Weibo, the topic of "France urgently orders 30000 air conditioners" once topped the hot search list. The mayor of the 17th arrondissement of Paris, France, Geoffrey Brauer, posted on TikTok that he has distributed some air conditioners to schools under the jurisdiction of the district. The video released by Blair shows that this batch of air conditioners is produced by Chinese manufacturer Haier.

Anhui Sanye Technology recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with industrial park operators to provide integrated cooling and ventilation solutions. The cooperation covers supply and installation of double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner, portable air conditioner, negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner, supporting the construction of high-standard smart factories. The cooperation marks a new stage of Sanye Technology in large-scale industrial system services.

Anhui Sanye Technology launches intelligent control upgrades for all products including double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner, portable air conditioner, negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner. Users can monitor and adjust equipment status remotely via smart systems, improving operation efficiency and maintenance convenience. The upgrade strengthens the company’s competitiveness in smart manufacturing and green HVAC fields.

Anhui Sanye Technology’s evaporative cooling air conditioner stands out for ultra-low energy consumption, ideal for large workshops and warehouses. Combined with double condensing air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner, portable air conditioner, negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner, it forms a hybrid cooling system that cuts electricity costs by over 40% compared with traditional air conditioners. The products have passed CE and other international certifications for export.

Anhui Sanye Technology cooperates with Taihu County government to build a zero-carbon industrial park focusing on green electromechanical manufacturing. The park mainly produces double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner, portable air conditioner, negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner, applying clean energy and digital management throughout production. The project helps promote local industrial upgrading and green transformation.

Anhui Sanye Technology targets commercial and catering markets with new kitchen air conditioner and portable air conditioner. The kitchen air conditioner is designed with oil-proof and high-temperature resistant features; the portable air conditioner supports flexible movement for temporary cooling. Together with double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner, they form a complete product matrix covering commercial, residential and industrial scenarios.

In 2025, Anhui Sanye Technology was officially recognized as a national high-tech enterprise for its innovation in HVAC and ventilation equipment. The company independently develops double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner, portable air conditioner, negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner, with multiple patents for energy-saving and environmental protection technologies. Adhering to green and intelligent concepts, it promotes sustainable development of the HVAC industry.

To solve high temperature and poor ventilation in manufacturing workshops, Anhui Sanye Technology integrates negative pressure fan and industrial air conditioner into one-stop cooling solutions. Matching with double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner and portable air conditioner, the system realizes efficient cooling, air exchange and energy saving. Many local factories have adopted the solution, achieving obvious reduction in workshop temperature and energy consumption.

Anhui Sanye Technology has accelerated global market layout by promoting energy-efficient cooling products. Its core offerings—the double condensing air conditioner for high-efficiency heat exchange, evaporative cooling air conditioner for low-energy workshop cooling, kitchen air conditioner for oil fume resistance, portable air conditioner for mobile use, negative pressure fan for ventilation and industrial air conditioner for heavy-duty production environments—have gained recognition from Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern buyers. The company provides customized OEM/ODM services for international clients.

In February 2023, Anhui Sanye Technology held a groundbreaking ceremony for its annual 50,000 intelligent electromechanical equipment project. The plant will mass-produce industrial air conditioner, double condensing air conditioner, evaporative cooling air conditioner, kitchen air conditioner, portable air conditioner and negative pressure fan, meeting growing domestic and overseas demand. As a national high-tech enterprise, Sanye Technology adopts automated assembly lines and strict quality inspection systems to support large-scale delivery.

Singapore is known for its widespread use of air conditioning, but due to the Iran War causing energy prices to rise, the country has required government employees to adjust office temperatures to at least 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). The public institutions of the city-state will also install energy-saving technologies, such as LED lights and smart sensors, to help save energy. Singapore has joined other Southeast Asian countries in taking measures to save energy, such as Thailand, which also requires people to maintain air conditioning temperatures at 26-27 degrees Celsius. The region heavily relies on oil and gas transportation through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the beginning of the war. In 1999, Lee Kuan Yew, widely regarded as the father of modern Singapore, made a famous statement that air conditioning had "changed the lives of people in tropical regions", allowing them to work indoors even in hot outdoor conditions. The former Prime Minister once said, "The first thing I did after taking office was to install air conditioning in the civil service office building. This is crucial for improving public efficiency Lee Kuan Yew passed away in 2015 and is often regarded as the mastermind behind Singapore's transition from a resource poor island nation to one of the most developed economies in Asia in the post colonial era. Nowadays, there are almost no offices in the country without air conditioning - although some people believe that the use of air conditioning is often excessive. Due to the low temperature in the office, it is not uncommon for employees to bring their own cardigans or sweaters to wear during office hours. Unlike many cities in Southeast Asia with open-air shopping streets, almost all shopping centers in Singapore are equipped with air conditioning. In fact, pedestrians on the streets of Singapore often feel a piercing cold wind hitting them as they pass by the entrances of shopping malls and department stores. All buses and trains in the city are equipped with air conditioning. Most households also have air conditioning installed - and it often stays on all night. The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Environment of Singapore stated on April 8th that due to the impact of the Iran War on the global fuel supply chain, the government is taking the lead in implementing energy-saving measures. Government employees were informed to set the air conditioning temperature to 25 degrees Celsius and strictly control the usage time. The department stated, "For every one degree increase in temperature, energy demand decreases by about 10% Workers are also urged to switch to fans and take public transportation to reduce fuel consumption. Singapore's fuel prices have risen, and authorities have issued a warning to the public to prepare for further economic chaos that may arise from the Middle East war. Since the end of the war, the country has not utilized its fuel reserves or implemented rationing measures. According to the US Energy Information Administration, about two-thirds of Singapore's crude oil imports come from Middle Eastern countries. Other Asian countries that rely more on Gulf oil are competing to find alternative suppliers and methods to curb the impact of rising fuel prices. 98% of the Philippines' oil relies on imports from the Middle East, and in order to save energy, the government has shortened the working hours of various departments. Government agencies are also required to reduce the use of electricity and fuel. In March, the country became the first to declare a national energy emergency, after gasoline prices more than doubled in the previous weeks. Thailand has also implemented emergency energy-saving measures, including ordering civil servants to work from home. Thailand also calls on the public to keep the air conditioning temperature at 26-27 degrees Celsius and save fuel by carpooling or taking public transportation. More than two-thirds of South Korea's energy is imported from the Gulf region, and the country has launched an energy-saving campaign to encourage people to shorten shower time and only use washing machines on weekends. Ichiro Kuaya from the Japan Energy Economics Research Institute stated that the economic consequences of the Iran War can be described as the 'Asian crisis'. He said that developing countries are particularly affected because they have a large number of gasoline cars and many households that rely on natural gas. Kugu stated that in the long run, this is a painful lesson for Asia, and that it is necessary to learn from this crisis, strive to improve oil utilization efficiency, and achieve diversified supply sources. Source of this article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80mxrdvkpjo