Cold Chain Logistics Market: Perishable Food Demand, Refrigerated Warehousing & Growth Outlook

Growing demand for temperature-sensitive food, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines is driving growth in the cold chain logistics market. Expansion of global trade, e-commerce grocery delivery, and biopharmaceutical production increases need for reliable cold storage and transport. According to IMARC Group's latest research publication, The global cold chain logistics market size was valued at USD 328.0 Billion in 2025. Looking forward, IMARC Group estimates the market to reach USD 941.9 Billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 12.44% from 2026-2034.

How AI is Reshaping the Future of Cold Chain Logistics Market

• Predictive Route Optimization and Fleet Management: AI algorithms analyze traffic patterns, weather data, and delivery schedules to optimize refrigerated truck routes, reducing fuel consumption and transit times. Machine learning models predict equipment maintenance needs before failures occur, minimizing costly breakdowns. Companies implementing AI-driven fleet management have improved operational efficiency, lowered transportation costs, and maintained consistent temperature control throughout distribution networks.
• Real-Time Temperature Monitoring and Compliance Management: AI-powered IoT sensors continuously track temperature, humidity, and environmental conditions across the entire cold chain. These systems automatically generate compliance reports and alert stakeholders to deviations, preventing spoilage and regulatory violations. Advanced analytics identify patterns in temperature excursions, enabling proactive adjustments that enhance product integrity from warehouse to end customer.
• Demand Forecasting and Inventory Optimization: Machine learning algorithms process historical sales data, seasonal trends, and market dynamics to predict demand with exceptional accuracy. AI systems optimize storage allocation across multiple temperature zones, reducing energy waste and maximizing warehouse capacity utilization. This intelligent approach minimizes overstocking of perishables, cuts storage costs, and ensures optimal product availability for customers.

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Cold Chain Logistics Industry Overview:

The pharmaceutical sector drives unprecedented growth in cold chain logistics, with the U.S. FDA approving 50 new molecular entities, including 18 biologics requiring specialized temperature-controlled transport. Cell and gene therapies secured USD 10.9 billion in investment during the first half of 2024, with specialized logistics provider Cryoport supporting a record 691 global clinical trials. Strategic investments are reshaping the landscape as DHL Group committed €2 billion over five years to enhance healthcare logistics capabilities globally. Warehouse automation advances rapidly, with projections indicating 50,000 fully robotic facilities will be operational, a dramatic increase from 4,000 such warehouses.

Cold Chain Logistics Market Trends & Drivers

E-commerce and quick-commerce expansion is fundamentally transforming cold chain requirements, with 81 million U.S. households expected to shop for groceries online by mid-2025. Online grocery sales peaked at USD 12.5 billion in September 2025, an increase of USD 3 billion year-over-year. Quick-commerce platforms serving 600 million global users are projected to reach 900 million users, with Amazon launching 15-minute delivery services in India driving demand for distributed micro-fulfillment centers with sophisticated refrigeration capabilities. This rapid delivery trend generated a 25% rise in such deliveries during India's 2024 Diwali season, compelling cold chain operators to establish localized storage networks that can support ultra-fast delivery timelines for perishable goods while maintaining strict temperature protocols throughout the last-mile journey.

Government initiatives across major markets are accelerating infrastructure development and modernization of cold chain networks. India advances 400 cold chain projects with Rs 117 billion in funding under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, with 1,217 projects approved at a total cost of Rs 8,698 crore (USD 1.01 billion) between 2017 and 2025. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries expanded financial outlay by ₹1,920 crore in July 2025, raising total allocation to ₹6,520 crore and approving 50 multi-product food irradiation units creating preservation capacity of 20-30 lakh metric tonnes annually.

Sustainability investments and technological innovations are attracting significant capital into eco-friendly cold chain solutions. UK-based Sunswap raised over €20 million to support trials and production of zero-emission refrigeration units, while FedEx launched va-Q-one and Bio Cool packaging systems maintaining 2–8°C for up to 96 hours. SeaCube Containers partnered with Greensee in January 2025 to deploy AI-driven CO2 emissions reporting technology for refrigerated transport operations. There were 18 acquisitions in the cold chain logistics sector with another 6 recorded by September 2025, as North American cold chain companies raised USD 3.7 million in equity during early 2024.

Leading Companies Operating in the Global Cold Chain Logistics Industry:

• Americold Realty Trust Inc.
• Burris Logistics Co.
• Cold Box Express Inc.
• Conestoga Cold Storage
• Congebec Inc.
• Lineage Logistics Holdings LLC (Bay Grove Capital Group LLC)
• Nichirei Logistics Group Inc. (Nichirei Corporation)
• Snowman Logistics Ltd.
• Tippmann Group
• United States Cold Storage Inc. (John Swire & Sons Ltd.)
• VersaCold Logistics Services

Cold Chain Logistics Market Report Segmentation:

By Type:

• Refrigerated Warehouses
• Refrigerated Transportation
• Railways
• Airways
• Roadways
• Waterways

Refrigerated warehouses hold the biggest cold chain logistics market share of around 65.0% because of their essential function in maintaining the quality and safety of temperature-sensitive goods in various sectors.

By Application:

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Bakery and Confectionary
• Dairy and Frozen Desserts
• Meat, Fish, and Sea Food
• Drugs and Pharmaceuticals
• Others

The largest segment is represented by dairy and frozen desserts, holding a share of 33.2%, which require steady refrigeration since they are very sensitive to temperature changes, affecting their quality and safety.

Regional Insights:

• North America (United States, Canada)
• Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Others)
• Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others)
• Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Others)
• Middle East and Africa

North America dominates the market, accounting for a share of 38.6%, because of its advanced infrastructure, technological capabilities, and strong focus on regulatory compliance.

Recent News and Developments in Cold Chain Logistics Market

• October 2025: CN and Congebec announced a partnership to build a state-of-the-art cold storage facility at CN's Calgary Logistics Park, enhancing the handling of temperature-sensitive goods. The facility will integrate cold storage, transloading, and first- and last-mile services, improving efficiency and reliability for perishable cargo transport.
• October 2025: ONE and DP World launched India's first dedicated reefer rail freight service connecting Hyderabad to Nhava Sheva Port, enhancing cold chain logistics for pharmaceutical exporters.
• October 2025: Celcius Logistics announced a ₹100 crore investment to deploy 350 refrigerated 3.5-ton electric trucks in partnership with Switch Mobility, launching the 'Celcius Green' zero-emission cold logistics network.
• December 2025: Stonepeak launched Peregrine Cold Logistics, a new cold chain logistics platform in Asia Pacific and the GCC, headquartered in Singapore. The platform acquired Pinnacle Cold Storage Inc. in the Philippines as its initial seed asset to meet accelerating demand for temperature-controlled infrastructure.
• May 2025: Maersk launched a new integrated packing and cold storage hub in Olmos, northern Peru, to support the region's growing fruit export sector. The facility offers advanced cold chain services including sorting, packing, and refrigerated storage for avocados, blueberries, and mangoes.
• May 2025: Ethiopia's Ministry of Transport and Logistics and EHPEA held a high-level meeting in Addis Ababa to fast-track cold chain infrastructure for the horticulture sector.

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