PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 2000112
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 2000112
Refrigerated transport is a method of shipping utilizing specially designed temperature-controlled trucks. These trucks feature a built-in refrigeration system that maintains regulated temperatures throughout the shipping process. They are commonly employed for transporting perishable items such as meats, vegetables, fruits, sausages, and pharmaceutical products.
In the refrigerated transport market, transport types include refrigerated road transport, refrigerated medium & heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV), refrigerated light commercial vehicles (LCV), refrigerated heavy commercial vehicles (HCV), refrigerated sea transport, refrigerated rail transport, and refrigerated air transport. Refrigerated LCVs use specially designed temperature-controlled trucks, while refrigerated road transport employs temperature-controlled trucks with single or multi-temperature options for chilled and frozen food applications.
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.
Tariffs are impacting the refrigerated transport market by increasing costs of imported refrigeration systems, insulated containers, sensors, and vehicle components used across road, sea, rail, and air transport. Europe and North America are most affected due to reliance on imported cooling technologies, while Asia-Pacific faces cost pressure on export-driven cold chain services. These tariffs are raising freight costs and operational expenses. However, they are also driving local manufacturing of refrigeration equipment and accelerating innovation in energy-efficient transport solutions.
The refrigerated transport market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides refrigerated transport market statistics, including refrigerated transport industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a refrigerated transport market share, detailed refrigerated transport market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the refrigerated transport industry. This refrigerated transport 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 refrigerated transport market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $129.58 billion in 2025 to $139.43 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of global food trade, growth of pharmaceutical distribution, increasing urban population demand for fresh food, availability of refrigerated vehicle fleets, growth of organized retail.
The refrigerated transport market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $187.93 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in cold chain infrastructure, rising adoption of smart monitoring solutions, expansion of cross-border refrigerated transport, growing focus on sustainable logistics, increasing demand for frozen food distribution. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of integrated cold chain networks, growing use of real-time temperature tracking, rising demand for multi-modal refrigerated transport, adoption of energy-efficient cooling technologies, enhanced focus on product integrity during transit.
The growing consumption of frozen food products is driving the expansion of the refrigerated transport market. Frozen variants involve pre-treatment processes such as blanching, heat treatment, dipping, and cryoprotection, depending on the type of product being preserved. The widespread adoption of frozen versions of fresh foods is increasing because they are more convenient, widely available, cost-effective, and can help boost overall food consumption, including vegetables. For instance, in December 2023, according to Frozen Food Europe, a UK-based publication covering the frozen food industry, the global frozen food market was valued at USD 392.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 612.3 billion by 2032. In 2022, Europe accounted for approximately 37% of the global frozen food market. Therefore, the rising demand for frozen food products is contributing to the growth of the refrigerated transport market.
Major companies operating in the refrigerated transport market are focusing on product innovation, such as the development of electric-driven transport refrigeration units, to gain a competitive advantage. Electric-driven transport refrigeration vehicles are equipped with refrigeration systems powered by electricity rather than conventional fuel sources. For example, in September 2023, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd., a Japan-based thermal solutions company, introduced the TEJ35GAM electric-driven transport refrigeration unit for small and mid-sized trucks. The unit features a plug-in hybrid system that seamlessly switches between external charging and battery operation, ensuring continuous refrigeration even when vehicles are parked or idling. It also incorporates a heat-pump system that enables simultaneous cooling and heating of separate cargo compartments, supporting stable temperature control across different seasons while improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions.
In January 2025, United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS), a US-based logistics and package delivery company specializing in integrated supply-chain solutions, acquired Frigo-Trans GmbH and its sister company Biotech and Pharma Logistics for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, UPS aims to expand and strengthen its healthcare cold-chain logistics capabilities across Europe by integrating Frigo-Trans's temperature-controlled warehousing and refrigerated transport network with BPL's expertise in time-critical, temperature-sensitive freight forwarding. Frigo-Trans GmbH is a Germany-based healthcare cold-chain logistics provider, while Biotech and Pharma Logistics is a Germany-based company specializing in the compliant transportation of temperature-sensitive healthcare products.
Major companies operating in the refrigerated transport market report include Carrier Transicold, Thermo King Corporation, Daikin Industries Ltd., Trane Technologies plc, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., GAH Refrigeration Ltd., Great Dane LLC, Wabash National Corporation, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Schmitz Cargobull AG, Lamberet SAS, Hwasung Thermo Co. Ltd., China International Marine Containers (Group) Ltd., Hyundai Translead, Singamas Container Holdings Ltd., Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, Klinge Corporation, Kingtec Group Company Ltd., Morgan Corporation, DENSO Corporation, Daikin Reefer, Frigoblock GmbH, Carrier Corporation, Polar Leasing Inc., Sanden Holdings Corporation, Zanotti S.p.A, Hubbard Products Ltd., MHI Thermal Systems
Europe was the largest region in the refrigerated transport market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the refrigerated transport market report forecast period. The regions covered in the refrigerated transport market report include Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the refrigerated transport market report include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain
The refrigerated transport market includes revenues earned by providing transportation services such as insulation vans, chiller conversion vans, semi-freezer vans, and full-freezer vans. 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.
Refrigerated Transport Market Global Report 2026 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses refrigerated transport 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.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for refrigerated transport ? 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 refrigerated transport 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, total addressable market (TAM), market attractiveness score (MAS), competitive landscape, market shares, company scoring matrix, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
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