Heatwaves drive export surge for creative cooling products from E China's Yiwu

Cooling products from Yiwu, known as the "world's supermarket," in east China's Zhejiang Province are gaining global popularity.

Yiwu recorded cross-border e-commerce sales of 52 billion yuan ($7.65 billion) in the first four months of the year, up 17 percent year on year, with heat-relief products driving seasonal demand worldwide thanks to their portability and practicality.

(Photo/CMG Voice of China)

A wide range of such products, including towels that deliver an instant cooling sensation when soaked and shaken, wearable fans that free the hands and sun umbrellas equipped with mist and ventilation functions, are emerging as summer export bestsellers from Yiwu.

At Yiwu International Trade Market, the world's largest wholesale hub for small commodities, three products are driving summer sales: cooling towels, wearable fans and AI-powered smart desk fans. This "summer trio" has emerged as the season's top-selling category.

Cooling towels see daily shipments of 160,000 packs

The seemingly ordinary towels are made from nonwoven fabric blended with other materials and infused with menthol, providing a cooling sensation when worn around the neck or arms, according to Huang Tao, a shop owner who sells the towels.

Lightweight and compact, the towels roll into palm-sized packs and avoid the bulkiness and odor of traditional towels, he said, making them popular among outdoor workers, gym users and sports enthusiasts.

(Photo/CMG Voice of China)

"Our factory now operates four production lines for the towels, and as temperatures rise, daily shipments have reached around 160,000 packs," Huang said, adding that an upgraded version with thicker fabric is being developed to extend the cooling effect.

Wearable fans attract large export orders

While cooling towels offer instant relief, wearable fans free users' hands during outdoor activities.

A home appliance company in Yiwu makes a fan resembling a small waist bag, worn around the neck or clipped to a belt, that delivers strong airflow without requiring users to hold it.

The product is particularly suitable for outdoor workers and enthusiasts of outdoor activities, such as anglers, cyclists and climbers, according to Ding Jun, general manager of the company.

(Photo/CMG Voice of China)

A dual-fan version has also been developed for intensive use in outdoor conditions by users including sanitation workers, delivery riders and police officers, Ding said.

Current orders are already scheduled through August, with products exported to the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa, according to Ding.

An export trader surnamed Fu placed an order for 5,000 pieces after testing the product, saying the upgraded version with cooling features "frees the hands while keeping users cool — exactly what we need."

Smart desk fans gain traction in European and American markets

Yiwu manufacturers are also upgrading products with smart technology.

Ding said the company began developing voice-controlled fans two years ago and added smartphone connectivity last year.

The latest models automatically adjust airflow based on room temperature, while some units feature human-tracking technology that directs airflow toward users wherever they move.

These AI-enabled desk fans are selling strongly not only in China but also in European and U.S. markets, according to Ding.

Traditional heat-relief products, such as sun umbrellas and tower fans, have also seen rising cross-border orders.

Chen Jianping, owner of a shop selling mini fans in Yiwu International Trade Market, said the shop's sales volume of cooling fans has increased 20 percent year on year, with cross-border e-commerce buyers shifting from ordering one or two units per product to placing bulk orders of five to 10 units at a time.

Supported by Yiwu's mature supply chain and cross-border logistics network, and driven by promotional campaigns on major e-commerce platforms, these cooling products are reaching global markets at an accelerating pace.

Wang Sen, executive of a Yiwu-based cross-border e-commerce company, said nearly all major platforms now maintain domestic warehouses in Yiwu, which see daily restocking of cooling products.

As heatwaves continue across parts of Europe, demand for heat-relief products will rise further, and the share of cooling products in cross-border exports is expected to grow steadily, according to Xu Yan, head of the Yiwu cross-border e-commerce association.