Consumer demand for mobile air conditioning units surged across Germany during the first half of the year, driven by intense heatwaves, according to retail market research firm NIQ. Shoppers purchased approximately 387,100 portable cooling systems between January and June, marking an increase of roughly 219,000 units or 130 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.
Monthly Sales Surge in May and June
Sales accelerated rapidly as summer temperatures climbed, with market data showing the highest figures for the months of May and June. In May, consumers bought about 79,700 cooling units, representing a year-on-year increase of 56,100 devices or 238 percent, according to NIQ figures. Momentum grew further in June as sales jumped by 159,100 units to reach approximately 290,200 devices sold, a 121 percent rise over June of the previous year. NIQ reported that these figures represent the highest monthly and half-year totals recorded by the research firm since tracking began in early 2023.
Types of Systems and Average Pricing
The sales data encompasses mobile air conditioners that expel warm air through an exhaust hose, as well as portable split systems featuring separate indoor and outdoor units. Traditional, permanently installed split air conditioning systems were excluded from the analysis. Average retail prices for these cooling devices rose slightly, reaching approximately 354 euros in June, compared to 342 euros during the same month a year prior.
Weighing Convenience Against Efficiency
Mobile air conditioning units offer distinct operational advantages, according to Julia Kalkowski, technical consumer goods expert at NIQ. These systems provide quick availability, require no permanent installation, and involve lower entry costs for consumers. However, Kalkowski noted that these benefits come with trade-offs in overall energy efficiency and user comfort.
Higher-performance mobile split systems are increasingly capturing market share, accounting for 16.5 percent of total sales in the first half of the year. Unlike permanently installed systems, portable split systems do not require professional technician setup because they operate without complex, refrigerant-carrying line connections. Despite this flexibility, high consumer demand has left portable cooling units largely sold out across multiple retail chains throughout Germany.
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