AliExpress reported a 382% year-on-year increase in cooling appliance sales as a heatwave grips the UK, with the platform boosting stock of air conditioners to meet demand.
AliExpress said cooling appliance sales jumped 382% year on year as a heatwave pushed demand for air conditioners and fans across the UK. The Chinese e-commerce platform said it is boosting stock of air conditioning units while some rivals, including Amazon, list similar products as sold out.
The company cited a Haier air conditioner priced at £298.39, down from £596.78, with delivery in one to two weeks. Another model, a portable 4-in-1 12000BTU unit, has sold more than 100,000 units globally, AliExpress said. Fan sales rose 60% year on year, helped by the XIAOMI Mijia portable desk fan, which the company discounted by half.
An AliExpress spokesperson said the company built “a robust matrix of products covering multiple consumer scenarios, including handheld, ceiling, standing, and neck fans.” The spokesperson said these categories benefit from “strong price competitiveness and highly sufficient inventory levels,” allowing the platform to meet demand during seasonal peaks.
AliExpress also promoted its Brand+ protection program, which offers a price match or refund of the difference if a customer finds the same item cheaper on another marketplace within seven days. Delivery in the UK takes one to three days for local inventory and as little as five working days for international shipping, the company said.
Finch Li, AliExpress UK’s general manager, said the Brand+ offering guarantees “verified sellers, reliable product quality, and highly competitive prices.” He said the program provides a “worry-free delivery experience with free and fast shipping” and is part of the company’s commitment to consumers.
The heatwave, which has brought record-breaking temperatures in parts of the UK, is expected to continue in the coming weeks, keeping demand for cooling devices elevated. AliExpress said it maintains sufficient inventory to meet the surge, while the company’s stock data suggests the platform has gained share from competitors that ran out of supply.
The 382% increase in cooling appliance sales reflects how extreme weather events are reshaping retail demand patterns. E-commerce platforms that can keep popular items in stock and deliver quickly stand to benefit most during such spikes, the company’s data shows.
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.