On October 16, the China News Service reported through the “Business Micro News” WeChat account that in August, the Ministry of Commerce and three other departments issued a notification regarding the enhancement of the home appliance trade-in program. This initiative offers subsidies to consumers purchasing eight types of home appliances that meet or exceed a 2-star energy efficiency or water efficiency standard. Local governments have responded positively and implemented the program diligently, with the number of applications for the trade-in program and the number of purchases nationwide surpassing 20 million and 10 million, respectively.
One of the key focuses is on establishing a unified approach to strengthen the deployment of the program. Local authorities are taking the initiative seriously by holding special meetings to outline the steps necessary for implementation. They have established local mechanisms to drive momentum, with all 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps launching robust support policies, and aligning their plans with national guidelines. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, as of October 15, over 20.67 million consumers have applied to participate, with 10.13 million purchasing 14.62 million units of the designated eight appliance categories, benefiting from a total of 13.17 billion yuan in central subsidies, which has stimulated sales of approximately 69.09 billion yuan.
Moreover, there is a spotlight on promoting green and intelligent technologies. Beyond the established subsidy cap for the eight appliance types, many regions are expanding the categories based on consumer habits and market conditions, embracing a green and smart approach. Over 20 provinces, including Hubei and Chongqing, are now including water purifiers, robotic vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, and air purifiers in the subsidy list, while Shanghai has added products catering to the elderly demographic and Shenzhen has introduced consumer-grade drones. Currently, over 90% of sales in the eight appliance categories are attributed to products with the highest energy efficiency rating.
The program also emphasizes local adaptability, encouraging regions to develop policies tailored to their specific circumstances. For instance, Sichuan has identified 4,686 sales enterprises and 6,488 stores, covering both online and offline markets, with small and medium-sized businesses comprising 90%. Additionally, 17 provinces, including Henan, Inner Mongolia, and Guangxi, have rolled out specific policies to address weak links in the waste recycling system for old home appliances. Regulatory measures are also tightening, with Hubei revoking the eligibility of non-compliant businesses, Chongqing creating a management system for appliance serial numbers, and Guizhou establishing a list of violators. Liaoning has linked its services to a government platform to ensure the safe use of financial funds.
To foster a favorable atmosphere, various region-specific promotional campaigns are being implemented. Communities, businesses, platforms, organizations, and trade fairs are all being targeted to enhance public awareness of the program. In Beijing, community-centered initiatives have integrated an appliance-themed market into daily life, while in Hebei and Gansu, volunteers are distributing promotional materials in residential areas. Jiangsu conducted over 200 swap events during the National Day holiday themed “New Jiangsu Consumption: Golden Autumn Promotions,” and Zhejiang hosted a dedicated pavilion at the Third Global Digital Trade Expo to promote the program.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Commerce will guide and urge local authorities to strengthen policy promotion and financial oversight, encouraging businesses within the appliance production and distribution sectors to capitalize on key consumer periods such as the “Golden September, Silver October,” and “Double Eleven.” The goal is to layer business incentives to maximize the effects of these policies and ensure the home appliance trade-in initiative yields substantial results.