Following a major surge in buying Chinese air conditioners to face record heatwaves, European consumers are increasingly turning to innovative Chinese cooling products. These include "fan hats," portable handheld fans, cooling towels, and cooling patches as summer temperatures continue to climb.
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In Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, eastern China—a major hub for manufacturing small commodities—factories are operating at full capacity to meet the growing demand for fan hats, a product that integrates a wearable hat with a built-in mini fan. The product gained popularity in overseas markets last summer before demand surged back strongly this year, with some factories confirming their orders are fully booked until the end of August, according to China's Global Times.
Portable handheld fans are also seeing wide demand from European distributors due to their portability and multifunctionality, with some recent models temporarily selling out due to the high demand.
The surge is not limited to these items; cooling towels and patches have become highly popular, especially among outdoor sports enthusiasts. These products provide a cooling sensation after being moistened with water, and they are lightweight and reusable. According to China Central Television (CCTV), demand for cooling towels rose by about 30% compared to April, with daily production reaching around 160,000 pieces.
Even traditional Chinese hand fans have made a comeback on European streets, shifting from a tool to beat the heat into a fashion accessory. Liu Xiaoying, who has worked in the traditional fan industry for over ten years, stated that she recently received an increasing number of customization requests from European clients, noting that some customers match a different fan with each outfit.
As temperatures rise to unprecedented levels in Europe, the prices of air conditioners have spiked due to the heatwaves and surging demand. Prices for Chinese-manufactured units have doubled compared to normal levels, reaching up to six times their original price in some cases.
The adoption of air conditioning in Europe remains relatively limited, with ownership not exceeding 20% of households due to restrictions on modifying older buildings, high installation costs, and a shortage of installation services.
In response to these challenges, Chinese companies developed customized air conditioners for the European market that feature easy installation, energy efficiency, and competitive pricing, including portable air conditioners that do not require professional installation.
Chinese customs data showed that air conditioner exports to the European Union reached $3.76 billion during the first half of 2026, a 43.2% increase year-on-year, marking the highest level recorded for this period. Exports of portable air conditioners requiring no professional installation jumped by more than 70%.
In Foshan City, Guangdong Province, a home appliance company developed a dual portable air conditioner tailored for European consumers, taking into account the nature of local buildings, regulations, and climate conditions. The company explained that sales of this product reached about 80,000 units last year, while surpassing 200,000 units by July 5 this year, driven by low energy consumption and competitive prices, which have become key factors drawing European consumers to Chinese cooling products.
