Cold Chain Global Market Report 2025

The cold chain involves managing perishable goods' temperature from their origin to the end-user to maintain quality and safety. This process utilizes refrigeration, thermal packaging, and other techniques to handle temperature-sensitive products.

Primary types of cold chains include refrigerated warehousing and refrigerated transport. Refrigerated warehousing (cold storage) involves temperature-controlled storage to prevent product decay and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Refrigerated transport (reefer freight) utilizes vehicles equipped with refrigeration systems to maintain desired temperatures during transportation. Cold chain temperatures commonly range from frozen to chilled. Cold chain storage finds application across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, food and beverages, chemicals, and other industries, facilitating the safe preservation and distribution of temperature-sensitive goods.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The sharp rise in U.S. tariffs and ensuing trade tensions in spring 2025 are placing significant strain on the transport sector, especially in areas such as fleet maintenance and logistics. Increased duties on imported commercial vehicles, tires, and engine parts have driven up operating costs for trucking and freight firms, forcing them to either raise shipping rates or accept lower profit margins. Airlines and maritime operators are also under pressure, as tariffs on aircraft components and shipbuilding materials have pushed capital expenditures higher. Meanwhile, retaliatory tariffs in key export markets have weakened demand for U.S.-manufactured transportation equipment, further squeezing revenues. To cope, the industry is turning to fuel efficiency measures, alternative supply sources, and greater automation to manage rising costs while maintaining dependable service.

The cold chain market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides cold chain market statistics, including cold chain industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a cold chain market share, detailed cold chain market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cold chain industry. This cold chain market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The cold chain market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $405.02 billion in 2024 to $452.84 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to strong economic growth in emerging markets, growth in world population, increase in food export, and increasing demand from end-use industries.

The cold chain market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $769.54 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to global population growth and urbanization, rapid growth in e-commerce, increasing consumption of packaged food, food security initiatives, and increasing demand from end-use industries. Major trends in the forecast period include focusing on sustainability initiatives, focusing on quality and product sensitivity, leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT), focusing on smart warehousing, outsourcing processes to third-party logistics, and focusing on strategic investments.

The forecast of 14.2% growth over the next five years reflects a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection.This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. This is likely to directly affect the US through tariffs on temperature-controlled containers, refrigeration units, and IoT monitoring systems sourced from China and Germany, raising logistics costs in pharma, food, and biotech industries.The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

Growing consumer demand for perishable foods is anticipated to drive the expansion of the cold chain market during the forecast period. The demand for perishable items, such as dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and meat, is increasing alongside the rising urban population and shifts in consumer eating habits. There is a notable trend towards purchasing perishable goods with longer shelf lives due to their inherent perishability. Emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America are experiencing significant demand for these food products. For example, in August 2023, the European Commission (EC), the executive branch of the European Union (EU) based in Belgium, reported a 0.8% increase in raw milk production in the EU during the first six months of 2023. Consequently, the growing consumer demand for perishable foods is expected to propel the cold chain market.

The rise in food exports is projected to enhance the growth of the cold chain market. Food export involves the international trade and shipment of food products between countries. An effectively managed cold chain system is crucial for the success and benefits of food exports, as there is a direct correlation between the two. For instance, in February 2023, the U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, a Bureau of Economic Analysis based in the U.S., reported that exports of foods, feeds, and beverages increased by $15.3 billion in 2022. Thus, the increase in food exports is driving the cold chain market.

Major companies in the cold chain market are investing in innovative technologies, such as temperature trackers, to enhance real-time monitoring and maintain the integrity of temperature-sensitive products throughout the supply chain. Temperature trackers employ various sensor technologies to measure and log temperature conditions at different points during product transportation and storage. For example, in September 2022, CubeWorks, a technology company based in the U.S., launched the CubiSens XT1, which provides a comprehensive solution for monitoring and optimizing agricultural processes. This system integrates multiple sensors and technologies to collect data on environmental conditions, crop health, soil moisture, and other pertinent factors. The primary objective is to assist farmers in making informed decisions, boosting crop yields, optimizing resource utilization, and improving overall efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.

Key players in the cold chain market are focusing on developing innovative products, including cloud-based software solutions for outbound shipments, to enhance supply chain efficiency, accuracy, and visibility. A cloud-based software solution for outbound shipments operates by storing data in the cloud, offering a comprehensive platform for managing and monitoring shipment processes. For instance, in November 2023, Sensitech Inc., a U.S.-based provider of supply chain visibility solutions, unveiled a new feature for monitoring outbound shipments within its SensiWatch platform. This upgrade significantly improves cold chain monitoring by extending real-time cargo protection to the final phase of outbound operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality perishable goods. The user-friendly, deployable cloud-based solution utilizes Sensitech IoT sensors to enable real-time monitoring of cargo from distribution centers to retail stores and restaurants. By overcoming previous limitations in cold chain monitoring, this solution delivers complete visibility into the last mile, allowing transportation managers to pinpoint and address underlying issues that may impact the quality of perishables, including food and medicine.

In September 2024, UPS, a U.S.-based logistics and package delivery company, acquired Frigo-Trans GmbH for an undisclosed sum. The purpose of the acquisition is to enhance UPS's comprehensive temperature-controlled logistics solutions for healthcare clients across Europe. Frigo-Trans GmbH is a Germany-based healthcare cold chain logistics firm.

Major companies operating in the cold chain market include Americold Logistics, Burris Logistics, Nichirei Corporation, United States Cold Storage, Lineage Logistics Holdings, VersaCold Logistics Services, Tippmann Group, Congebec Inc, Snowman Logistics Ltd, Conestoga Cold Storage, Cold Box India LLP, Rinac India Limited, Singhania Logistics & Distribution Pvt. Ltd, Sinotrans Shanghai Cold Chain Company, Kerry Logistics Network Limited, Global Cold Chain Solutions, Valley Food Storage, ACS&T Logistics, VIMA Foods, Logifrio, Cabezuelo Foods, Ebro Foods, CRS IE, Maersk, Ruzave, FREJA Transport & Logistics, Priority Freight, Dropex, Internel Sp. z o.o, NATANEX, PUH Jamax, Fructus Transport, Artrans Transport, DH Warehousing & Fulfillment Ltd, Belleair Storage, Sysco EastTexas LLC, Freedom Warehousing and Solutions, Sam Dune Enterprises, Des Moine Cold Storage Co, Paige Logistics Ltd, N&N Logistics Inc, XPO Logistics, Legacy Logistics, Localfrio S/A, Brado Logistica S/A, ComFrio, Friozem Armazens Frigorificos Ltda, Martini Meat S/A, Agility, Al Futtaim, RSA Cold Chain, Sharjah cold stores, Tameem logistics, APG Logistics, GEFCO South Africa, Value Logistics, Transnova, KAP Industrial Holdings Limited, Tsiko Africa Group, Bakers SA Limited

North America was the largest region in the cold chain market in 2024. Asia-Pacific region is projected to record the fastest growth over the forecast period. The regions covered in the cold chain market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the cold chain market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The cold chain market includes revenues earned by entities by refrigerated containers, cold rooms, chillers, cold boxes, and blast freezers. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

Cold Chain Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.

This report focuses on cold chain market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.

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Where is the largest and fastest growing market for cold chain ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The cold chain market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.

The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.

• The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market.
• The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, and forecasting its development.
• The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include:

The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.

• Market segmentations break down the market into sub markets.
• The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth.
• The competitive landscape chapter gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified.
• The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers.

Scope

• Markets Covered:1) By Type: Refrigerated Warehousing, Refrigerated Transport
• 2) By Temperature Type: Frozen, Chilled
• 3) By Industry Vertical: Pharmaceuticals And Healthcare, Food And Beverages, Chemicals, Other Industry Verticals
• Subsegments:
• 1) By Refrigerated Warehousing: Ambient Temperature Storage (2°C to 8°C); Frozen Storage (below -18°C); Temperature-Controlled Storage (Multi-temperature Warehouses)
• 2) By Refrigerated Transport: Road Transportation (Refrigerated Trucks And Vans); Rail Transportation (Refrigerated Railcars); Air Transportation (Cargo Planes With Temperature Control); Maritime Transportation (Reefer Containers)
• Companies Mentioned: Americold Logistics; Burris Logistics; Nichirei Corporation; United States Cold Storage; Lineage Logistics Holdings; VersaCold Logistics Services; Tippmann Group; Congebec Inc; Snowman Logistics Ltd; Conestoga Cold Storage; Cold Box India LLP; Rinac India Limited; Singhania Logistics & Distribution Pvt. Ltd; Sinotrans Shanghai Cold Chain Company; Kerry Logistics Network Limited; Global Cold Chain Solutions; Valley Food Storage; ACS&T Logistics; VIMA Foods; Logifrio; Cabezuelo Foods; Ebro Foods; CRS IE; Maersk; Ruzave; FREJA Transport & Logistics; Priority Freight, Dropex; Internel Sp. z o.o, NATANEX; PUH Jamax; Fructus Transport; Artrans Transport; DH Warehousing & Fulfillment Ltd; Belleair Storage; Sysco EastTexas LLC; Freedom Warehousing and Solutions; Sam Dune Enterprises; Des Moine Cold Storage Co; Paige Logistics Ltd; N&N Logistics Inc; XPO Logistics; Legacy Logistics; Localfrio S/A; Brado Logistica S/A; ComFrio; Friozem Armazens Frigorificos Ltda; Martini Meat S/A; Agility; Al Futtaim; RSA Cold Chain; Sharjah cold stores; Tameem logistics; APG Logistics; GEFCO South Africa; Value Logistics; Transnova; KAP Industrial Holdings Limited; Tsiko Africa Group; Bakers SA Limited
• Countries: Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain
• Regions: Asia-Pacific; Western Europe; Eastern Europe; North America; South America; Middle East; Africa
• Time Series: Five years historic and ten years forecast.
• Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita,
• Data Segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments.
• Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.
• Delivery Format: PDF, Word and Excel Data Dashboard.