Source: CHEAA-run China Appliance magazine
This summer, Europe has been hit by an “once-in-a-century” extreme heatwave, with temperatures in Spain, France, Germany and across Europe breaking historical records. In a region where air-conditioning penetration stands at only around 20%, the huge cooling gap has generated massive market demand, giving China-made cooling appliances a surge in the European market.
This time, the companies capitalizing on this unexpected windfall are Chinese air-conditioning manufacturers and e-commerce platforms, drawing on years of accumulated capabilities in demand forecasting, warehousing infrastructure, supply-chain coordination and localized services. They had been preparing for this surge in demand from the outset.
The Heatwave Was Sudden, but the Demand Was Foreseen
The surge in demand brought by Europe’s high temperatures may have been triggered by a sudden heatwave, but the platforms that successfully captured the opportunity were not relying on last-minute reactions. Instead, they had been laying the groundwork months in advance.
An AliExpress representative said the sudden demand triggered by Europe’s high temperatures was being met not with “last-minute reactions,” but with “early forecasting and advance stocking.” The platform monitors category trends, including shifts in search volumes, add-to-cart rates, weather patterns and social-media trends in individual markets. With forecasts pointing to extreme heat in several European countries ahead of summer, AliExpress began advising brands to stock up as early as May. “Our role is to turn forecasts into inventory on the ground, so brands are ready when demand arrives,” he added.
Joybuy likewise began preparing for summer sales of cooling appliances such as air conditioners and electric fans in the first and second quarters of 2026. With some China-sourced air conditioners requiring two to three months to reach Europe, Joybuy shipped and stocked them in local warehouses well in advance. The platform also works with local European suppliers to adjust inventory based on weather changes and real-time sales, helping shorten delivery times. A Joybuy representative said meteorologists expect temperatures across most of Europe to remain above average toward the end of summer. Based on its current inventory, goods in transit and replenishment plans, Joybuy expects to meet demand during the main periods of extreme heat through August.
Data from the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, based on figures from the General Administration of Customs, show that China exported 8.3172 million air conditioners to Europe in March 2026, up 1.4% year-on-year. Exports rose to 10.9149 million units in April, up 1.6% year-on-year. The two consecutive months of year-on-year growth closely matched the timing of the platforms’ stocking plans and ocean-freight cycles, suggesting that the advance preparations were well timed—the shipments were already on their way before the heatwave arrived.
The strategy of early forecasting and advance stocking was validated as the heatwave hit Europe. On AliExpress, Midea split air conditioners sold out across multiple markets, while best-selling Sofucor and Homcom fans went out of stock. On Joybuy, several popular models of air conditioners, fans and other cooling appliances temporarily sold out between June 19 and 25, while air-conditioner sales surged nearly 40-fold from the first week of June.
Overseas Warehouses: The Infrastructure Behind the Advance Planning
Early demand forecasting and advance shipments gave Chinese cooling-appliance makers a head start in the European market. But for consumers looking to cool their homes quickly, delivery speed is just as important. That makes overseas warehouses another key part of the equation.
As one of the most challenging categories for cross-border e-commerce fulfillment, home appliances have long faced three major logistics constraints. First, their size and weight can make cross-border shipping costs higher than the value of the goods themselves. Second, consumers have little tolerance for long delivery times: once temperatures rise, a two-week wait for an air conditioner can mean the demand has already disappeared. Third, returns and after-sales service are costly, with cross-border returns of large appliances often impractical.
What turns advance planning into actual sales is a local warehousing and delivery network already in place across Europe. An AliExpress representative said the products are shipped not from China but from local warehouses in Spain, Poland and Germany, allowing consumers to receive them within two to three days. AliExpress now has warehousing and delivery coverage across all 27 EU member states, with next-day or two-to-three-day delivery available in key markets including Spain, France, Poland and Germany. During this year’s 618 shopping festival, orders shipped from local warehouses in AliExpress’s core European markets surpassed cross-border direct shipments for the first time, marking a significant shift.
Joybuy leverages JD.com’s self-operated logistics network in Europe, which includes more than 60 warehouses and delivery sites. Its first overseas “Zhilang” smart warehouse in Milton Keynes, UK, uses nearly 200 automated logistics systems and has increased picking and outbound efficiency by about four times through a goods-to-person model. The end-to-end logistics network has also improved fulfillment efficiency. Joybuy’s “211” service now covers more than 30 major European cities in the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands, giving more than 40 million consumers access to same-day delivery, with orders placed in the morning arriving in the afternoon.
Cainiao operates 28 overseas warehouses in Europe, all of which offer warehouse capacity to home-appliance companies and next-day local fulfillment. The warehouses serve not only Alibaba-affiliated e-commerce platforms but also connect with major platforms including AliExpress, Amazon, TikTok Shop, eBay and SHEIN. More importantly, local warehousing is becoming increasingly important as a competitive advantage. On July 1, 2026, the EU officially ended its longstanding duty exemption on low-value imports under €150, levying a flat €3 duty on non-EU parcels alongside standard tariffs calculated by HS code. The change has sharply increased the cost of small-parcel direct shipping, while shipments from local warehouses are not subject to the policy.
At this point, the value of years of investment in overseas infrastructure is becoming increasingly apparent. Local warehouses are shifting from an option to a necessity, prompting major platforms to expand their local warehousing networks.
Temu plans to have more than 80% of its European orders fulfilled from local warehouses by the end of 2026. SHEIN is expanding its network of local warehouses across Europe to reduce its reliance on small-parcel direct shipping and the associated tax costs. TikTok Shop is also accelerating its local warehousing rollout in key markets including Spain, Germany and Italy, establishing local fulfillment centers.
From Replenishment to Service: Building a Rapid Response Across the Supply Chain
Local warehouses solve the problem of speed, but not the risk of stockouts. Once local inventories come under pressure, cross-regional transfers, transcontinental replenishment, emergency production scheduling and service delivery all become critical to meeting the surge in demand. In response to the sharp increase in urgent orders, Chinese manufacturers have mobilized resources across their global operations.
On the production side, Haier leveraged its global network by designating its Thailand plant to supply European orders and continuously scaling up production schedules there. Meanwhile, facing an overflow of orders, Hisense responded by reallocating inventory across Eastern Europe and temporarily boosting output at its domestic plants.
On the logistics side, Midea has leveraged China-Europe freight trains to accelerate shipping, cutting transit times to 15–25 days. Gree has integrated multiple transport channels—including China-Europe rail, ocean shipping, and cross-border trucking—prioritizing rail for urgent shipments. Meanwhile, by pre-positioning inventory in major European warehouses, Gree ensures that finished units are swiftly distributed to local offline channels upon arrival.
The preparations have extended beyond product delivery to after-sales service. In February 2026, JD Logistics became the first Chinese logistics company to launch an integrated delivery-and-installation service for large home appliances in Europe. Delivery teams contact customers before arrival to confirm the layout of their homes and intended use. Delivery, installation, removal of old appliances and disposal can all be completed in a single visit.
As demand for cooling products has risen rapidly this summer, Joybuy has doubled the number of air-conditioner delivery personnel to ensure timely fulfillment during peak periods. “We have dedicated teams in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. They bring together procurement, inventory control, logistics and customer service teams, maintaining communication throughout the process from order placement to delivery and customer support, while updating inventory and shipment status daily,” a Joybuy representative said. “The teams not only have a deep understanding of air-conditioning products, but can also communicate directly with factory production planners and delivery drivers to coordinate supply across multiple brands.”
The European heatwave of summer 2026 has highlighted the value of years of investment by Chinese companies in overseas infrastructure. Being “prepared” means more than having products in stock; it means having an entire chain in place, from warehousing and delivery to customer service. The heat will eventually pass, but the warehouses, transport fleets and delivery networks built across Europe will remain, providing a lasting foundation for Chinese manufacturers expanding overseas.