European heat drives Thai air-conditioner exports

Thailand's exports of air conditioners and parts to Europe have grown sharply, making the vast European market an increasingly promising destination for Thai products.

Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Commerce Ministry's Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), told the media this week that exports of locally produced air conditioners and parts to Europe in May 2026 alone rose 40.7% year-on-year to more than US$148 million.

He said the sharp increase, compared with an 8.5% expansion a month earlier, was the strongest growth in seven months and brought Thailand's exports of air conditioners and parts to Europe to an average growth rate of 18.9%, with shipments valued at more than US$783 million during the first five months of this year.

He cited this year's heat wave across much of Europe as a key factor driving the strong growth in Thai exports, particularly heat pump air conditioners with environmentally friendly dual functions that provide cooling in summer and heating in winter.

Thailand's exports of heat pump air conditioners to Europe surged 70.6% in May, the TPSO chief said, projecting that demand for Thai products would remain strong later this year as another heat wave is expected to affect several parts of Europe, with temperatures likely to approach 40 degrees Celsius in the third quarter, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Nantapong said a structural shift in Europe, where rising temperatures have become the new normal and are increasing faster than in many other parts of the world, would support demand for Thai heat pump air conditioners and parts over the long term.

He nevertheless advised local exporters to keep abreast of European Union rules and regulations.