At a CAGR of 9.0%, The global cold chain market is expected to be valued $278.2 billion in 2023 and $428.4 billion by the end of 2028.
This growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for temperature-controlled storage and transportation across various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.The globalization of trade has led to an increase in the transportation of goods across borders. This has driven the need for cold chain logistics to ensure that temperature-sensitive products are maintained at the required temperature during transportation and storage, irrespective of the distance and time taken. The pandemic has further highlighted the importance of the cold chain market, particularly in the distribution of vaccines and other medical supplies. As a result, the cold chain logistics market size is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, with significant investments in technology and infrastructure to improve cold chain logistics and ensure the safe and efficient distribution of temperature-sensitive products.
The cold chain market size has been steadily growing due to several factors:
Increasing Demand for Perishable Goods: With the rise in global population and changing consumer preferences, the demand for perishable products like fresh produce, dairy products, and seafood has increased significantly.
Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industry Growth: The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries often deal with temperature-sensitive drugs and vaccines, making a reliable cold chain infrastructure essential for their distribution.
International Trade: Globalization has led to the expansion of trade across borders, necessitating the need for a robust cold chain to ensure the safe transport of perishable goods over long distances.
Government Regulations: Regulatory bodies have imposed stringent guidelines for handling and transporting perishable goods to maintain product quality and safety, further driving the need for an efficient cold chain system.
Technological Advancements: Advancements in refrigeration and monitoring technologies have improved the efficiency and reliability of cold chain logistics.
E-commerce and Home Delivery: The growth of e-commerce and the increasing trend of home delivery for groceries and perishable items have put more emphasis on efficient cold chain logistics to ensure timely and fresh deliveries.
The frozen segment by temperature type is estimated to account for the largest market share in the global Cold chain market.
The food industry is a major driver of the frozen segment in the cold chain market. The demand for frozen foods is increasing due to their longer shelf life, convenience, and ease of preparation. Frozen foods are also less prone to spoilage during transportation and storage, which makes them ideal for long-distance transportation. The growing demand for frozen products and the need for strict temperature control during transportation and storage are driving the frozen segment of the cold chain market. With the increasing demand for frozen food, pharmaceuticals, and other products, the demand for cold chain logistics services for the frozen segment is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
The fruits and vegetables by application is projected to attain the fastest market growth in Cold chain market over the forecast period.
With the growing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables, the need for cold chain logistics has increased to maintain the quality and freshness of these products during transportation and storage. Cold chain logistics plays a crucial role in maintaining the nutritional value and taste of fresh produce, thereby meeting the rising demand for high-quality fresh produce. Overall, the growing demand for fresh produce, globalization of trade, reduction of food waste, and demand for organic produce are driving the fruits and vegetables segment of the cold chain market.
The e-commerce industry is growing rapidly in the Asia Pacific region, which is driving the demand for cold chain logistics for the last-mile delivery of temperature-sensitive products, such as fresh food, pharmaceuticals, and other products. Governments in the Asia Pacific region are investing in the development of cold chain infrastructure to support the growth of the food and pharmaceutical industries. For instance, the Indian government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana to create modern infrastructure for the food processing industry, which includes cold chain logistics. The growing demand for food products, increasing urbanization, rising e-commerce industry, government initiatives, and focus on sustainability are driving the growth of the cold chain market in the Asia Pacific region.
Key Market Players in Cold Chain Market
The key players in this market include Americold Logistics (US), Lineage Logistics Holdings, LLC. (US), Nichirei Corporation (Japan), Burris Logistics (US), A.P. Moller Maersk (Denmark), United States Cold Storage (US), Tippmann Group (US), VersaCold Logistics Services (Canada), Coldman (India), Congebec Inc. (Canada), Conestoga Cold Storage (Canada), NewCold (Netherlands), Confederation Freezers (Canada), Seafrigo (France), and Trenton Cold Storage (Canada). These players in this market are focusing on increasing their presence through agreements and collaborations. These companies have a strong presence in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. They also have manufacturing facilities along with strong distribution networks across these regions.