Chongqing - Chongqing is seeing a spike in cooling appliance sales as the city faces an unusually hot summer. The Chongqing Meteorological Bureau reported on September 5 that the heatwave, which began on August 11, has persisted for 24 days, making it the second-longest since 1961.
In August, Chongqing recorded an average of 17 days with temperatures exceeding 37°C, a significant increase from the seven days observed in the same period last year. Additionally, the city saw five days with temperatures above 40°C, compared to just one day in 2023. The extreme maximum temperature for the month reached 43.6°C.
The prolonged heatwave has significantly boosted cooling appliance sales like air conditioners, refrigerators, and fans. Demand has surged even more following the Chongqing government's introduction of a green and smart home appliance subsidy policy on August 26.
By September 3, over 72,900 subsidy applications had been submitted, leading to a direct boost in home appliance sales totaling 257 million yuan (USD 36.2 million). Air conditioners and refrigerators accounted for 68.87% of these sales, amounting to 177 million yuan.
JD.com in Chongqing reported a significant year-on-year increase in sales for cooling products. On the day the subsidy policy was introduced, air conditioning sales surged sixfold compared to the previous year. The first week of the policy saw a tenfold increase in air conditioner purchases, while refrigerator sales soared by over 600%.
Haier, China's leading appliance manufacturer, also noted a 328% increase in air conditioning retail sales since the policy's implementation.
Chongqing residents are choosing air conditioners. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce)
"It's not just Chongqing experiencing a surge. In both Sichuan and Chongqing, air conditioning sales have increased by over 50% year-on-year as of July, with user numbers up by more than 80%. More and more customers are opting to replace their old air conditioners with new ones," said a representative from JD.com.
The new policy, which runs from August 26, 2024, to December 31, 2024, offers a 15% subsidy on the sales price of energy-efficient or water-efficient appliances and a 20% subsidy for higher standards. Each consumer can receive up to 2,000 yuan in subsidies per product type.
The Chongqing Meteorological Bureau predicts partly cloudy weather on September 7, with temperatures ranging from 29°C to 39°C. Stay hydrated and exercise caution during thunderstorms.