Scorching northeast heating up purchases of air conditioners

An unprecedented heatwave sweeping through Northeast China this summer is triggering a dramatic surge in demand for air conditioners, transforming a traditionally tepid market into a new hot spot for the cooling appliances sector.

Typically insulated from extreme summer heat due to its high latitude, the region — including major cities like Shenyang, Liaoning province, Changchun, Jilin province and Harbin, Heilongjiang province — has experienced prolonged periods of temperatures exceeding 30 C. In some areas, recent highs have shattered historical records.

The rare scorching heat has significantly boosted consumer demand in a market where air-conditioner ownership has long lagged behind national averages. According to data from AVC Network, offline air-conditioner sales in Heilongjiang rose 817.7 percent year-on-year during the week of June 23-29 and 438 percent between June 30 and July 6. Jilin saw year-on-year spikes of 128.8 percent and 788.4 percent during the same periods.