Unprepared for the Heat: Germany's Midea PortaSplit AC Vanishes as Prices Surge

Germany is enduring one of its most severe June heatwaves on record, and the strain on cooling equipment has turned a popular portable air conditioner into one of the hardest items to find in the country. The Midea PortaSplit, a mobile split unit that cools an apartment without drilling holes in walls, has been almost completely sold out since the middle of June 2026.

The shortage is tied directly to the weather. A heat dome driven by an Omega block pattern pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius across western and southwestern Germany. On 26 June a preliminary national record of 41.3 degrees Celsius was measured near Saarbruecken, close to the French border, and the national weather service issued extreme heat warnings for almost the entire country the following day. Forecasters expect the peak to pass over the weekend before thunderstorms move in.

Demand for the PortaSplit exploded because of Germany's housing rules. More than half of the population rents, and tenants usually need a landlord's approval before mounting a fixed air conditioner on an outdoor wall. Federal noise rules limit outdoor units at night, and installing a permanent split system requires a certified refrigeration technician. The PortaSplit sidesteps most of these obstacles because it uses a small outdoor heat exchanger linked through a thin hose that fits through a tilted window, so renters have flocked to it.

The result is a near-total stock-out. A developer built a live map at braucheklima.de that tracks inventory across major DIY chains. By late June only a handful of more than 1,100 branches still listed any units, and major platforms such as Amazon and eBay showed the device as unavailable. The product normally sells for roughly 700 to 800 euros.

According to posters on X, the price climbed in stages as stocks vanished, moving from around 800 euros to 1,000, then 1,500, and finally close to 2,000 euros, while an app appeared that maps known units and offers paid alerts when one becomes available. German technology outlets reported similar patterns, with one listing briefly jumping to nearly 2,000 euros and dealers offering binding reservations for about 1,400 euros paid in advance. Classified ads now offer the unit for rent at about 350 euros per week.

Scammers have moved in alongside the resellers. Cheap fans are being advertised as powerful mini air conditioners for 50 to 130 euros, and fake shops have appeared listing the PortaSplit at prices that are clearly too good to be true.

For now, buyers without a unit are being pushed toward alternatives such as monoblock air conditioners, portable heat pumps, fans, and pre-order lists that promise delivery in July or August. Until fresh shipments clear customs, most people facing the heat will have to wait.