R32 Refrigerant Dominates as China's Air Conditioning Sector Embraces Green Transition

ChinaIOL data shows that in Q2 2026, domestic sales of air conditioning valve components reached 223.675 million units, down 2.0% YoY. Affected by persistently high inventory in the downstream air conditioning industry and the diminishing marginal effect of the national subsidy policy, channel players remained focused on destocking existing inventory, with limited willingness to actively restock, leading to a sharp decline in procurement demand for valve components. Notably, solenoid valves and thermal expansion valves achieved strong counter-trend growth this quarter, driven by rising downstream export orders, with both posting double-digit YoY growth.

On September 5, Haier Smart Home signed strategic cooperation agreements with two retailers in Paris, gaining immediate access to Brazil’s largest online traffic pool and largest offline home appliance network. From a broader perspective, Haier skipped the traffic-building phase of a cold start and embedded itself directly into Brazil’s most mature commercial ecosystem, moving from channel expansion to omnichannel brand operations. With local air conditioner and television production lines already in operation and refrigerator and washing machine capacity under planning, this deal completes the cycle of local manufacturing, omnichannel sales, and data-driven operations.

Haier EU HVAC Solutions recently announced a partnership with Solar Denmark to bring the latest R290 air-to-water heat pump portfolio to professional installers. The Haier R290 series includes monobloc, split, and all-in-one units, with capacities ranging from 3.5 kW to 40 kW, suitable for a variety of homes and small projects. The Mini is available in 3.5 kW and 5 kW versions and is currently the smallest heat pump on the Danish market, designed for homes with limited installation space to reduce on-site retrofit hassle. Commercial heat pumps, offered in 26 kW, 30 kW, 35 kW, and 40 kW capacities, extend R290 technology to light commercial applications—offices, hotels, restaurants, gyms, and small commercial buildings.