Cold Chain Logistics Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast Segmented By Service Type (Refrigerated Warehouse, Refrigerated Transportation), By Application (Seafood, Meat, Fruit & Vegetable, Dairy Products, Alternative Protein, Others), By Temperature Type (Frozen, Chilled), By Technology (Dry Ice, Gel Packs, Eutectic Plates, Liquid Nitrogen, Quilts), By Region, Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 345.91 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	15.78%
Fastest Growing Segment	Frozen
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 833.23 Million

Market Overview

The Global Cold Chain Logistics Market will grow from USD 345.91 Million in 2025 to USD 833.23 Million by 2031 at a 15.78% CAGR. Cold chain logistics involves the management of temperature-sensitive products, such as pharmaceuticals and perishable foods, throughout the supply chain to maintain safety and quality. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the increasing globalization of food trade, the rising complexity of pharmaceutical distribution for biologics, and the structural shift toward online grocery retail. These factors collectively necessitate robust infrastructure to minimize product loss and ensure regulatory compliance across international borders.

This expansion is evident in recent industry figures. According to the Global Cold Chain Alliance, in 2025, the total temperature-controlled capacity operated by its members reached 231 million cubic meters, marking a growth of over 10 percent from the prior year. However, the market faces a significant impediment in the form of high operational expenditures. The substantial energy consumption required for continuous refrigeration, combined with capital-intensive fleet maintenance, creates barriers to profitability and infrastructure development in cost-sensitive regions.

Key Market Drivers

Rising global demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and biologics is fundamentally reshaping the cold chain logistics landscape, necessitating higher standards for thermal stability and tracking. This driver is characterized by the increasing reliance on complex medical products, including vaccines and cell and gene therapies, which require precise ultra-cold storage and transportation conditions to maintain efficacy. Logistics providers are consequently investing heavily in specialized infrastructure to ensure strict regulatory compliance from manufacturing facilities to the point of administration. Demonstrating this industry-wide commitment to medical supply chain resilience, according to DHL Group, March 2025, in the '2024 Annual Report', the company plans to invest 2 billion euros in its health logistics segment by 2030 to expand its pharmaceutical handling capabilities and establish new hubs.

The rapid expansion of online grocery and fresh food e-commerce is simultaneously increasing the volume and complexity of cold chain operations. As consumers shift toward digital platforms for perishable goods, retailers must develop advanced last-mile delivery networks and automated fulfillment centers to preserve product quality directly to the consumer. This trend is quantified by robust activity in the sector; according to Ocado Group, February 2025, in the 'FY24 Results' announcement, order volumes on its retail platform grew by 12.5 percent over the fiscal year, signaling sustained demand for grocery delivery infrastructure. To capitalize on such broader industry growth, major players are securing vast capital reserves to fund network development. For instance, according to Lineage, Inc., November 2024, in the 'Third-Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the organization raised $5.1 billion in gross proceeds from its initial public offering, facilitating significant investment in global cold storage facilities.

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Key Market Challenges

High operational expenditures represent a substantial impediment to the sustainable expansion of the cold chain logistics sector. The necessity for uninterrupted refrigeration demands significant energy consumption which exposes companies to volatile utility prices and erodes profit margins. This financial burden is intensified by the capital required for regular fleet maintenance to ensure strict temperature adherence. When logistics providers must dedicate a large proportion of their revenue to covering these basic running costs, they have less capital available for infrastructure upgrades or capacity expansion. Consequently, this dynamic discourages investment in emerging markets where consumers may not be able to absorb the premium pricing required to offset these overheads.

Recent industry data underscores the severity of this upward cost trajectory. According to the Global Cold Chain Alliance, in 2025, total cold storage costs increased by 4.97 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period in the previous year. This persistent inflation in operating costs creates a high barrier to entry for new market players and limits the ability of existing firms to scale their operations efficiently. As companies struggle to maintain profitability amidst rising expenses, the overall growth potential of the global market remains constrained.

Key Market Trends

The shift toward solar-powered and energy-efficient cold storage infrastructure is emerging as a critical response to regulatory decarbonization pressures and volatile utility costs. Operators are increasingly retrofitting facilities with on-site renewable energy systems to reduce dependence on traditional power grids while simultaneously lowering scope 2 emissions. This transition extends beyond simple panel installation to include microgrid capabilities that ensure resilience during outages, a vital feature for preserving perishable inventory. According to Lineage, November 2024, in the '2023 Sustainability Report', the company’s installed solar generating capacity across its global network reached 146 megawatts, demonstrating the scale at which major logistics providers are internalizing energy production to secure long-term operational sustainability.

Concurrently, the integration of artificial intelligence for predictive supply chain analytics is transforming how companies manage fleet safety and asset utilization. Unlike traditional passive tracking, AI-driven systems actively analyze vast datasets to predict equipment failures, optimize routing based on real-time traffic conditions, and automate compliance workflows. This technological leap allows firms to move from reactive problem-solving to proactive operations management, significantly reducing downtime and insurance risks. Validating this momentum, according to Samsara Inc., June 2024, in the 'State of Connected Operations Report', 87 percent of physical operations leaders plan to increase their investments in artificial intelligence technologies over the coming year to drive safety and efficiency gains.

Segmental Insights

The Frozen segment is currently emerging as the fastest-growing category within the Global Cold Chain Logistics Market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the escalating global demand for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, particularly biologics and vaccines that require ultra-low storage conditions to maintain efficacy. Additionally, evolving consumer lifestyles are fueling a significant rise in the international trade of frozen processed foods, meat, and seafood. Institutions such as the World Health Organization have highlighted the critical need for robust deep-frozen supply chains to support global immunization efforts, further validating the urgent investment in this logistics sector.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific leads the Global Cold Chain Logistics Market, primarily driven by rapid urbanization and a significant shift in consumer preference toward processed and frozen foods. The region’s expanding pharmaceutical sector, particularly in manufacturing hubs like China and India, further fuels the demand for temperature-controlled distribution. Governments are actively investing in logistics infrastructure to support these growing industries. Additionally, regulatory bodies such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India are enforcing stricter safety standards, mandating compliant cold storage solutions. These economic and regulatory factors position Asia Pacific as the dominant region in the global market.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, Americold Realty Trust completed the construction of a new $100 million cold storage facility located in Kansas City, Missouri. This state-of-the-art import-export hub was developed to serve as a critical node in the North American food supply chain, facilitating the movement of perishable goods across the region. The facility was strategically designed to support the only single-line rail service for refrigerated cargo connecting the United States and Mexico, thereby improving cross-border logistics efficiency. This infrastructure project represented a key step in the company’s effort to offer customers enhanced connectivity and streamlined distribution options.
• In April 2025, Lineage, Inc. announced a significant expansion of its United States cold storage network through a strategic investment of approximately $1 billion. This major initiative involved the acquisition of multiple existing facilities from Tyson Foods, reinforcing the company's long-standing partnership with the food production giant. Additionally, the plan included capital for the development of two new, fully automated warehouses designed to increase operational efficiency. This expansion was aimed at enhancing the company's ability to support complex supply chains and address the growing demand for temperature-controlled logistics capacity in key distribution markets.
• In April 2025, DHL Group unveiled a comprehensive strategy to invest €2 billion into its global logistics operations for the life sciences and healthcare sectors over the next five years. A large portion of this funding was designated for the establishment of new pharmaceutical hubs compliant with Good Distribution Practices and the expansion of cold chain capacity within existing infrastructure. The investment also covered the deployment of new temperature-controlled vehicles and advanced sustainable packaging solutions. By upgrading its specialized network, the company aimed to provide more resilient and scalable delivery systems for sensitive biopharmaceutical products and clinical trials.
• In September 2024, Carrier Transicold commercially launched the new Vector HE 19 transport refrigeration unit during the IAA Transportation exhibition in Hanover, Germany. This next-generation system for semi-trailers featured a new refrigerant with a low global warming potential and was engineered to be fully compatible with biofuels, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The product introduction underscored the company's focus on sustainability and regulatory compliance while delivering high cooling performance. The unit was designed to lower the total cost of ownership for fleet operators by offering improved fuel efficiency and quieter operation for temperature-sensitive cargo transport.

Key Market Players

• Americold Logistics, LLC
• Burris Logistics
• Cold Box
• Conestoga Cold Storage
• Congebec
• Lineage Logistics Holding, LLC
• Nichirei Corporation
• Tippmann Group
• United States Cold Storage
• VersaCold Logistics Services

By Service Type	By Application	By Temperature Type	By Technology	By Region
Refrigerated Warehouse Refrigerated Transportation	Seafood Meat Fruit & Vegetable Dairy Products Alternative Protein Others	Frozen Chilled	Dry Ice Gel Packs Eutectic Plates Liquid Nitrogen Quilts	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Cold Chain Logistics Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Cold Chain Logistics Market, By Service Type:

• Refrigerated Warehouse
• Refrigerated Transportation

• Cold Chain Logistics Market, By Application:

• Seafood
• Meat
• Fruit & Vegetable
• Dairy Products
• Alternative Protein
• Others

• Cold Chain Logistics Market, By Temperature Type:

• Frozen
• Chilled

• Cold Chain Logistics Market, By Technology:

• Dry Ice
• Gel Packs
• Eutectic Plates
• Liquid Nitrogen
• Quilts

• Cold Chain Logistics Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE