BARCELONA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- As much of Europe and Spain struggle with scorching summer heat, demand for affordable, energy-efficient air conditioners is on the rise. As a result, Chinese brands that offer affordable prices, energy efficiency and reliable performance are increasingly preferred.
This trend is also evident in white goods stores across Spain.
"A lot of Chinese brands are emerging, and customers want to know about these brands. Although the demand is still relatively low, it is gradually increasing. More and more people are asking about certain brands," Albert Martinez, manager of the Electro Norma white goods store, told Xinhua.
Muhammed Hussain, who runs Soy Clima home appliance store, states that affordable prices have become a key factor in purchasing decisions.
Hussain says, "People care not only about quality but also about affordability. Due to their competitive prices, many of our customers prefer Chinese brands to have a cool summer."
As temperatures rise above 40 degrees Celsius in some parts of the Iberian Peninsula, scientists warn that extreme temperatures are becoming more frequent and more severe.
According to the International Energy Agency, Europe is warming at twice the rate of the global average. However, only around 20 percent of European households have air conditioning, indicating the sector's significant growth potential in the future.
Eric Marti, president of Fegicat, one of the leading federations representing air conditioning system installation companies in Spain, said in his statement to Xinhua, "Air conditioning in homes where there are elderly people, vulnerable people or young children is no longer just a matter of comfort, but has become a health-related issue."
In the face of more frequent extreme summer heat, many consumers prefer Chinese brands that offer an attractive price-performance balance.
Industry representatives point out that climate change increases the demand for cooling products across Europe and state that this momentum may continue.
Expressing his hope that Chinese manufacturers will further strengthen their presence in Spain by expanding their technical support and after-sales services, Marti says, "We expect Chinese brands to provide more technical training and for assemblers to participate in trade fairs where they can get to know the products more closely."