Midea PortaSplit sells out as Europe swelters in heatwaves

Europeans are rushing to buy the Midea PortaSplit, a portable split air conditioner from China's Midea, after Western Europe's hottest June on record pushed temperatures above 40C. Units have sold out at roughly €750 retail, while resellers mark them up and factories race to ship fresh stock.

Key Takeaways

• The Midea PortaSplit became one of Europe's most sought-after cooling products during the 2026 heatwaves.
• Retailers emptied stock from about €750, with resale listings at double or triple that price.
• Midea has reportedly doubled Guangzhou output to 6,000 units a day and already shipped more than 50 containers to Europe.
• Buyers cite no-drill window mounting that fits strict European building and rental rules.
• Midea's Europe chief says the company sees considerable long-term growth potential in the region.

Why is the Midea PortaSplit selling out across Europe?

Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, and German cities saw temperatures rise above 40C (104F), according to the BBC. For attic dwellers and renters, fixed outdoor AC units are often blocked by historic-preservation rules that restrict drilling into exterior walls.

The Midea PortaSplit is designed around those limits. It pairs an indoor unit with a lightweight outdoor module that owners can perch on a window bracket themselves, and it markets itself as compatible with most European window types. German engineer Steven Scholtysek called it a "game changer" after moving into an overheating attic flat in Hamelin.

Vienna resident Denis Yurchak said online reviews and forums showed "a kind of cult about Midea," and he ran the unit "basically… 24/7" during peak heat. French buyer Adrien Olar, 26, described his first Chinese appliance as a "revolution," saying his room felt "like going into a fridge."

How is Midea restocking Europe amid the shortage?

Units have sold out in stores in recent weeks. Resale sites have listed models at double or even triple the roughly €750 (£639; $856) retail price, and shoppers have used tools such as MideaFinder to hunt remaining stock.

Heise online reports that, according to Chinese portal ITHome citing the manufacturer, Midea received a large order for 160,000 Portasplit units, doubled Guangzhou capacity to as many as 6,000 units a day, and has shipped more than 50 containers since July 8, mostly by freight train and cargo ship. When those units reach German DIY and electronics stores—and how many are destined for Germany—remains uncertain.

Heise also notes November prices briefly under €700 for a 12,000 BTU model, versus about double that now, with resellers trading at exorbitant markups. That spending surge matters for anyone tracking household budgets and wealth trends as cooling shifts from optional comfort to a summer necessity.

What does the boom mean for Chinese brands and buyers?

Midea told Chinese state media the Global Times that sales in France, Spain, Germany and the UK surged more than 70% year-on-year, though its Europe office declined to confirm those figures to the BBC. Rival TCL claimed air-conditioner sales jumped more than 300% in France alone, while Gree told the BBC demand was "noticeably stronger," with many first-time buyers.

Launched in Germany in 2024, the PortaSplit is pitched as "German engineering" from Midea's Stuttgart research centre with "Italian design." Ralph Kobsik, general manager of Midea's Europe operation, said the firm sees "considerable long-term growth potential in Europe" and will keep investing in tech that meets European consumer needs. Scholtysek was impressed enough by quality and design to buy Midea shares after his purchase.

Cooling still carries trade-offs: air conditioning accounts for about 7% of world electricity use and 2.7% of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry, per a 2024 report cited by the BBC. After France's hottest day on record forced hundreds of school closures, the country's power utility pledged €80m for cooling in schools and community centres. The WHO's Europe office urges a nuanced approach—AC is not a sustainable fix, but it remains crucial for people at higher risk from extreme heat.