China: Heat wave triggers sales of protective items – 7/6/2023 – World

As temperatures reach record highs in several cities across China, sales of accessories such as hats with ultraviolet (UV) protection and face coverings, “facekinis”, mostly worn by women seeking head-to-toe protection, have become bestsellers in the asian country.

Demand should increase. Chinese meteorologists on Thursday issued a series of heat warnings in the north of the country, as temperatures are expected to exceed 40°C in some areas. The torrid weather has prompted local governments to ask residents and businesses to reduce their electricity use.

The climate crisis also made Chinese brands, such as Bananain, Beneunder and OhSunny, adapt to the scenario and focus on sun protection products. Foreign companies also began to offer the Chinese market items of this type, such as hats and jackets dyed with UV.

Data from the Shanghai-based China Insights Consultancy show that from 2021 to 2026, the country’s sun protection apparel market will grow at a rate of 9.4% per year, with the market size reaching $13. 24 billion (R$ 64.9 billion) in 2026, a trend that could expand to neighboring nations, such as South Korea, where sun protection products are also popular.

“We want to get tanned and sunburned, but we are prepared,” said a 34-year-old businesswoman, identified as Hong, in a hat and long sleeves at the Beijing tourism center.

Data from the Alibaba group’s Tmall shopping platform shows that sales of “new generation” sun protection clothing grew by 180% compared to 2022. Sun protection masks have become particularly popular in China, according to Tmall. As the product has a white lower half, with pink on the sides, close to the cheeks, the user, from a distance, appears to be wearing makeup.

“During the pandemic, I didn’t put on makeup because I would wear a mask after all,” said Li Hongmei, 26, who lives in Beijing. “Now I’m too lazy to go back to makeup, so I put on the sun protection mask and go outside.”

The Chinese capital issued a red heat alert on Thursday – the highest in a three-tier system. The maximum temperature in most areas of the city is expected to exceed 40°C, according to the state-run Beijing Daily. The meteorological observatory in northern Hebei province also issued a red alert, and temperatures in some areas are expected to reach 43°C.

The Municipal Department of Culture and Tourism has asked companies to reduce outdoor excursions. On Sunday (2), a guide at the Summer Palace collapsed and died of heatstroke, according to state media.

The Beijing meteorological observatory recorded 18 days of high temperatures (above 35°C) between early June and early July. Also according to the Beijing Daily, this is the hottest period since the station was built in 1951. Meanwhile, heavy rains continue to hit Chongqing, in the southwest, where 15 people have already died as a result of the phenomenon. The storms caused floods and disasters in 310 municipalities in 19 districts of the country, according to state-run CCTV.

Regarding global data, the extreme heat reached a new record this Tuesday (4), reaching 17.18° C. It was the second mark beaten in two days: on Monday, the average temperature reached 17.01° C, surpassing the highest index recorded so far, of 16.92° C, in 2016 and again in 2022.

Thus, the planet had the hottest June recorded in history. According to the European observatory Copernicus, both the air and the oceans experienced record heat. The blame for the high temperatures over the last few weeks lies in the sum of two factors: the climate crisis caused by human action and the onset of El Niño, a phenomenon characterized by the warming of Pacific waters.