Chinese-made PortaSplit AC become hot sellers in Europe

Portable split air conditioners made by Chinese home appliance manufacturers are becoming highly sought-after trendy items in Europe, as temperatures in many European countries have broken historical records since late May.

At an air conditioner factory run by Midea Group, a leading Chinese home appliance manufacturer, in Foshan, Guangdong province, workers are putting in overtime to ramp up production of portable split air conditioners.

The units will be transported via the China-Europe freight train to meet demand during the peak summer season in Europe, according to the company.

The company has seen strong growth in air conditioner sales in the European market. In countries like France, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom, where air conditioner penetration has traditionally been low, sales have increased by more than 70 percent year-on-year since the beginning of this year, according to the company.

European households have long faced several challenges when choosing air conditioners. Traditional portable air conditioners are often bulky and noisy, while split air conditioners are criticized for their high installation costs and long installation periods.

Midea's portable split air conditioner, known as PortaSplit, has effectively addressed these challenges through core technological innovations, according to the company.

PortaSplit features a tool-free installation design, allowing users to quickly set up and deploy the unit without professional assistance, significantly lowering the usage barrier.

Additionally, it has been designed with a dedicated structure to fit the windows of Europe's historical buildings, ensuring effective cooling and heating while preserving architectural aesthetics.

The PortaSplit was inspired by Midea's long-term research into European consumers' needs and usage habits, along with its understanding of local architectural characteristics, the company said.

China's exports of household air conditioners to western European countries increased by 9.7 percent year-on-year in the first five months of 2026, with the portable air conditioner category seeing a year-on-year growth of over 70 percent, according to ChinaIOL.com, a research institute focused on data monitoring in the home appliance market.