Europe Heat Wave Fuels Air Conditioner Demand, China-Europe Railway Express Becomes Trade 'Fast Track'
The National Development and Reform Commission said on July 28 that the China-Europe Railway Express has become a vital bridge for international trade, covering 53 major cargo categories and over 50,000 varieties. In June 2026, a European heat wave with temperatures above 40°C triggered a surge in air conditioner demand. Chinese manufacturers Midea and Gree switched from sea to rail, cutting transport time from 40 days to about 15 days, creating a fast track for China-Europe trade.
On July 28, the National Development and Reform Commission held a press conference on the China-Europe Railway Express. Liang Linchong, director of the NDRC’s Open Economy Department, said the express has become an important bridge for close international economic and trade exchanges, spanning Asia and Europe and connecting the East and West. It effectively links production and consumption, greatly promoting the circulation of goods and industrial complementarity among countries along the route. The types of cargo transported cover 53 major categories and more than 50,000 varieties, and the proportion of cargo value in total goods trade has been increasing year by year.
In June 2026, a heat wave swept across Europe, with maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C, leading to an explosive growth in demand for air conditioning. Chinese air conditioners were in short supply locally. AC manufacturers such as Midea and Gree shifted their replenishment channels from sea to the China-Europe Railway Express, compressing the transport cycle from 40 days to about 15 days, thus building a "fast track" for China-Europe trade.