As extreme heatwaves sweep across Europe this summer, breaking records with sustained high temperatures, the demand for cooling products has surged in a regional market not traditionally known for its consumption of such goods.

While this has generated a level of market anxiety over what have emerged as some "hard-to-source" products, Qingdao smart manufacturing, represented by Haier, has stepped up to become a significant force in alleviating the soaring demand.

In the first half of 2026, Qingdao's exports of cooling appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, and electric fans reached 8.69 billion yuan ($1.28 billion), a year-on-year increase of 11.3 percent.

The second quarter witnessed a record-high export value of 4.62 billion yuan for these products, up 23.8 percent from the same period in 2025.

Haier's intelligent production lines have demonstrated remarkable responsiveness.

In July, the company's Jiaozhou interconnected factory delivered over 70,000 air conditioner units to the European market in just over 10 days.

Meanwhile, between June and August, the production schedule for exports from Haier's Shanghai interconnected second factory was increased by 50 percent.

These figures represent not just a seasonal spike, but serve as a testament to the agility of China's manufacturing system in capturing and responding to shifting global market dynamics.

The speed of delivery is supported by a highly coordinated industrial chain.

Haier's Jiaozhou plant is capable of agile production, thanks to its intelligent manufacturing systems that integrate AI, big data, and 5G technologies. This system can quickly switch between different orders by calling up corresponding programs and adjusting process parameters automatically. On average, an air conditioner unit rolls off the production line every two seconds.

Furthermore, the strategic location of these factories near the China-SCO local economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone in Qingdao, Shandong province, provides convenient access to the China-Europe Railway Express.

This allows products to reach European markets within 15 to 25 days, significantly faster than traditional sea freight.

This rapid delivery demonstrates not just cooling technology from China but a new industrial language of quick response, deep adaptation, and global collaboration.

Qingdao's smart manufacturing demonstrates both agility and scale, powering cooling exports for a record-breaking second quarter. [Photo/Guanhai News]