China's 'cool' exports soar amid searing summer heat

S-E Asia an attractive market owing to its climate, maturity of e-commerce channels

- Aw Cheng Wei

Soaring temperatures in summer have given China's cool - or "qing liang" - economy a boost as exports of refrigerators, air-conditioners and fans hit a new high, with Southeast Asia becoming an increasingly attractive market.

Customs data released in September showed the export value of refrigerators has grown 25.1 per cent to 47.85 billion yuan (S$8.8 billion) in the first eight months of 2024, followed by electric fans at 22.5 per cent to 37.01 billion yuan and air-conditioners at 19.6 per cent to 48.62 billion yuan.

This has contributed to an overall growth in the export of household appliances, which recorded a rise of 17.2 per cent to 473.6 billion yuan over the same period in 2023.

There is no strict definition of "cool economy" in the country, but the term generally refers to products aimed at helping people cope with hot summers, including sun-protective clothing.

State media outlets also have used "qing liang jing ji" to describe trips made by the Chinese to cooler regions of the country during summer, as well as the sale of ice cream, cold drinks and even paper fans.

The world's biggest factory has been relying heavily on exports to sustain its economic growth, as domestic demand remains soft amid a severe property downturn that has left the Chinese feeling poorer.