AI, green development emerge as growth drivers for China's home appliance sector: report

BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Artificial intelligence (AI) and green development have emerged as engines driving high-quality growth in China's home appliance sector, according to an industry report.

The white paper on China home appliance consumption trends, recently released by the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, indicates that Chinese consumers are shifting from meeting basic needs to pursuing quality experiences and from simple product replacement to holistic lifestyle upgrades.

The report outlines seven major consumption trends for 2026, including an AI-empowered paradigm shift from passive response to proactive intelligence, deep integration of health scenarios, new innovations in energy-efficient technologies, and the robotization of home appliances.

China's government-backed consumer goods trade-in programs are effectively guiding consumption upgrades, accelerating the phase-out of outdated and inefficient appliances while promoting the adoption of green and intelligent products, according to the report.

Data showed that the number of home appliances with top-tier energy or water efficiency ratings purchased by Chinese consumers in 2025 increased by 20 percent year on year. ■