Bamboo-strip materials dry in a yard in Taoyuan village, Banqiao town, Lin'an district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 4, 2026. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang province exported about 6.91 million bamboo, grass, and other cooling mats worth about $32.16 million in the first seven months of 2026, accounting for 47 percent of China's total by both volume and value.

Record heat across parts of the Northern Hemisphere has fueled overseas demand for Chinese cooling mats, with Zhejiang manufacturers tapping different consumer preferences.

Anji, which accounts for around 70 percent of China's bamboo cooling mat market, saw exports of bamboo and wood products rise 49.8 percent year-on-year to 420 million yuan ($62.62 million) in the first half. Output value at major bamboo cooling mat producers rose 29.8 percent.

Jinqing town in Taizhou's Luqiao district accounts for around 90 percent of China's paper-woven cooling mat market, with companies along the industry chain generating more than 3.7 billion yuan in output value last year.

In Gulin town, Ningbo, rushes grown across nearly 400 hectares are processed into tatami and grass mats mainly for Japan and South Korea.

Cool-touch fabric mats are gaining popularity in Europe, while South Korean consumers tend to prioritize antibacterial properties. Buyers in Indonesia and the Philippines favor more affordable traditional bamboo mats.