Chinese manufacturers have produced 276,250 propane (R290) room air conditioner (RAC)-type units to date, according to Li Xiaoyan, program officer at China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment/Foreign Economic Cooperation Office (MEE/FECO).
This is an increase of almost 90,000 units since September 1, 2019, when the total confirmed number produced was 186,350, according to Li.
Orders still consist mostly of bulk procurement from organizations such as schools or public buildings. There have been no reports of any private purchases.
In October 2018, eight major Chinese RAC makers pledged to produce 220,000 split-type R290 RAC units in the domestic Chinese market by July 2019.
The eight manufacturers are Gree, Midea, Haier, Hisense, Changhong, TCL, Aux and Yair.
Individual production numbers per company can not be confirmed at this time, though “Midea is still leading in [this] market,” Li confirmed.
While the initial target has now been achieved, there has not yet been an announcement of the next target.
The marketing of R290 RAC split-type units has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Li said. “Many manufacturers have faced difficulties in the market and [had] to halt the [introduction of] new products including R290,” said Li.
“Midea is still leading in [this] market.”
Li Xiaoyan, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment/Foreign Economic Cooperation Office
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