Chinese AC exports to Europe surge amid record heatwave

As France endured its worst recorded heatwave, with classroom temperatures reaching as high as 44°C, a Paris district leader took matters into his own hands — ordering 50 Chinese-made Haier air conditioners for public schools and igniting a broader conversation about Europe's dependence on Asian cooling technology.

Emergency Cooling in the 17th Arrondissement

Geoffroy Boulard, mayor of Paris's 17th arrondissement, posted a video on social media showing the delivery of Haier air conditioning units to schools in his district, saying authorities had been "slow to act" as the heatwave gripped France. The move came as nearly 10,000 of France's 60,000 schools either closed or altered their schedules due to extreme heat, according to Education Minister Édouard Geffray.globaltimes+2

The video drew attention on Chinese social media, where the hashtag "France urgently orders 30,000 units of air-conditioners" became the top trending topic on Weibo. Chinese manufacturers including Midea and Gree reported sales surging more than 70 percent and 40 percent year-on-year respectively in Western European markets. Chinese customs data showed air conditioner exports to EU countries reached $3.76 billion in the first half of 2026, a 43.2 percent year-on-year increase.channelnewsasia

France's National Cooling Push

The broader crisis prompted a national response. Électricité de France announced on June 26 that it would allocate €80 million to equip schools, nurseries, and daycare centers with cooling systems. Half of the budget will fund more than 100,000 pieces of equipment — fans, misting devices, and air conditioners — across over 10,000 establishments by September 2026, with the remainder distributed as €10,000 grants per facility for longer-term cooling projects through June 2027.lemonde+2

Combined with €50 million pledged by Banque Postale and Banque des Territoires for 12,500 additional schools, France's total commitment exceeded €130 million.education.economictimes.indiatimes+1

A Cultural and Political Shift

Air conditioning remains rare across Europe, with only about 20 percent of households equipped, according to the International Energy Agency. In Paris, strict heritage regulations and building codes have long made installation difficult. But the political landscape is shifting — Marine Le Pen has advocated for a national "plan clim" with €20 billion in interest-free loans for household cooling, while even France's Green party acknowledged that some degree of air conditioning is now unavoidable.youtube+3