虎嗅APP·2026-01-02 09:36Core Viewpoint - The Chinese home appliance industry is at a critical juncture, with the focus shifting towards international expansion as domestic markets reach saturation. The theme for 2026 is "going abroad," which represents a significant opportunity for companies like Haier, Midea, Hisense, and TCL to explore new markets and alleviate overcapacity issues [7]. Group 1: Overseas Market Potential - The global home appliance market is valued at nearly 4.5 trillion yuan, indicating substantial overseas market potential. In 2024, Midea and Haier are projected to generate approximately 270 billion yuan each in appliance revenue, translating to a global market share of only about 6% [9]. - Domestic brands have low market shares in most overseas regions, with Midea and Haier struggling to exceed 10% in many markets. In contrast, their competitors like Samsung and LG dominate the market [11]. - The growth strategy for domestic brands hinges on increasing their market share abroad, transitioning from competing with regional brands to facing established global giants [13]. Group 2: Challenges of Past Success - Historically, Chinese home appliance companies have relied on capacity expansion and brand acquisitions for international growth. However, this simplistic growth model is becoming unsustainable, as evidenced by the significant gap between global manufacturing share (over 45%) and retail share (less than 20%) [17]. - The stagnation in overseas revenue for leading companies like Haier and Midea, which has remained around 50% and 42% respectively for the past five years, highlights the need for a shift in strategy [18]. Group 3: Brand and Channel Development - The success of domestic brands in China was due to a strong competitive edge in product, brand, and channel management. However, these strengths have not yet translated effectively to international markets, where brand recognition and channel control remain challenges [23]. - Building brand recognition in mature markets is particularly difficult, as Chinese brands face trust issues despite offering lower prices compared to Japanese and Korean brands [25]. - The reliance on traditional retail channels in overseas markets poses significant barriers, as these channels are often fragmented and dominated by established players [30]. Group 4: Opportunities for Breakthrough - Technological innovation is seen as a key pathway to overcoming brand premium challenges and building core competitiveness. Chinese companies have increased R&D investments, achieving breakthroughs in areas like robotic vacuum navigation technology [33]. - Emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Latin America present significant growth opportunities due to low penetration rates and a favorable demographic profile. These markets are less saturated, allowing for greater brand establishment potential [43]. - The rise of e-commerce in overseas markets offers a new avenue for brand penetration, enabling companies to reach consumers without the need for extensive physical retail investments [45].