Global Cold Chain Logistics Market Trends, Forecast Report 2025-2037
Cold Chain Logistics Market size was valued at USD 371.97 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.8 trillion by the end of 2037, rising at a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period 2025-2037. In 2025, the industry size of cold chain logistics is expected to be USD 412.44 billion.
The supply chain for cold chain logistics includes repository, transportation, and timely placement of the temperature-sensitive goods. Parameters such as Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) are crucial indicators demonstrating the cost dynamics within the cold chain logistics sector. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the CPI for perishable items is witnessing fluctuations on the back of factors such as disruptions in the supply chain and fuel prices. Also, the surge in costs for producers in handling cold storage facilities resulted in an increased Producer Price Index. These parameters highlight the economic complexities faced by stakeholders in the sector.
The investment in technological advancements is crucial for speeding up the efficiency and decreasing costs in cold chain logistics. For instance, in India, the National Center for Cold Chain Development is trying to promote technological innovation in the sector. The technological developments, such as real-time monitoring and the adoption of energy-efficient refrigeration systems, endeavor to lessen the product losses and establish quality maintenance in the supply chain.
The surge in imports and exports is instilling a necessity for a robust cold chain infrastructure. In 2020, the data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that the country exported almost USD 7.1 billion of dairy products. Other than this, in 2022, the World Trade Organization announced that global trade of perishable goods such as seafood, fruits, dairy, vegetables, etc., was valued at almost USD 1.42 trillion. These trade activities highlight the need for an adequate cold chain logistics network for the smooth conduct of international trade. Governments are emphasizing the amalgamation of the assembly line and cold chain logistics for the pharmaceutical and food industries to maintain product efficacy. The smooth integration is crucial for meeting the expectations of consumers and ensuring compliance with the safety regulations.
Cold Chain Logistics Sector: Growth Drivers and Challenges
Growth Drivers
- Expansion of the biopharmaceutical sector: Biologics such as cell and gene therapies require strict temperature-controlled logistics. These biologics are extremely sensitive to temperature and need specialized transportation and storage. Various government regulatory bodies, such as the European Medicines Agency, have made stringent guidelines for managing the storage and distribution of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products. These factors are compelling market players to invest in developing an advanced cold chain logistics infrastructure. Logistics providers are investing in making state-of-the-art temperature monitoring technologies and repository facilities to ensure product quality and compliance.
- Growth of e-commerce and online grocery retailing: There has been an exponential boom in online grocery shopping for perishable goods such as meat, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, etc. For instance, in 2021, data published by Eurostat stated that 30.5% of the customers in the European Union purchased online groceries. The increasing online grocery shopping demands well-established cold chain logistics to maintain the quality of the product. A European Grocery Chain, Colruyt Group, uses digital technology and automation consisting of smart coolboxes connected with IoT to ensure unbroken cold chains for online orders.
- Automation in cold storage facilities: The automation in cold storage facilities is enhancing operational efficiency and reducing labor costs. In the U.K., NewCold in Corby operates the largest automated cold storage warehouse to ensure the large-scale storage of frozen foods. Various companies are investing in automation technologies within cold storage facilities to raise the throughput and maintain a consistent temperature control. U.S. Department of Energy in 2023 stated that automated temperature control systems are useful in cutting energy usage by 21-26%. Also, the International Federation of Robotics projects that by 2030, 25.5% of cold storage operations will be automated.
Technological Advancements Reshaping Cold Chain Logistics
The worldwide cold chain logistics industry is witnessing a revolutionary transformation, bolstered by the incorporation of advanced technologies. The prominent developments in this direction are the inclusion of the Internet of Things for real-time monitoring, blockchain for secure data management, an environment-friendly refrigeration system, etc. The pharmaceutical industry dominates in leveraging IoT for stringent temperature control and maintaining the quality of the products. These advancements are not only ameliorating operational performance but also ensuring compliance and fulfilling the quest for adopting sustainable practices.
Key Technological Trends in Cold Chain Logistics
|
Technology Trend |
Industry Application |
Company Example |
Impact |
|
Artificial Intelligence |
Food & Beverages |
Lineage Logistics |
Utilized AI to optimize warehouse operations, resulting in a 21% rise in efficiency |
|
IoT Monitoring |
Pharmaceuticals |
DHL Global Forwarding |
Leveraged an IoT-enabled temperature monitoring system across the logistics network |
|
Automation |
Cold Storage Facilities |
Americold Logistics |
Introduced automated storage and retrieval systems |
|
Blockchain Technology |
Healthcare Logistics |
UPS |
Integrated blockchain for secure data management |
|
Eco-friendly Refrigeration |
Logistics Infrastructure |
Snowman Logistics |
Introduced solar panels at facilities, reducing energy costs by up to 31%. |
AI and Machine Learning Driving Innovation in Cold Chain Logistics
Modern technologies are revolutionizing the cold chain logistics market by spearheading advancements in operational efficiency and product development. Various pioneering companies are incorporating AI and ML to speed up product design, boost customer satisfaction, and optimize supply chains. Also, AI-enabled analytics streamline inventory management, improve product quality, and cut the cost of development. Such applications are revamping the cold chain logistics market domain by allowing companies to meet strict regulatory demands and render customized solutions. As AI and ML technologies are maturing, their role is becoming irreplaceable for making robust logistics services globally.
|
Company |
Integration of AI & Machine Learning |
Outcome |
|
Lineage Logistics |
AI-driven warehouse automation and predictive maintenance |
21% increase in operational efficiency; 11% downtime reduction |
|
Americold Logistics |
AI algorithms for supply chain and route optimization |
14% reduction in logistics costs |
|
Snowman Logistics |
AI-powered quality control and anomaly detection |
16% improvement in product quality |
|
DHL Global Forwarding |
AI-enabled temperature monitoring and demand forecasting |
13% reduction in spoilage-related losses |
|
UPS |
ML models for predictive maintenance and delivery optimization |
17% reduction in maintenance costs; 9% faster delivery times |
Challenges
- Strict data privacy regulations: Stringent laws for data privacy laws, such as CCPA and GDPR, intricate the cold chain logistics, limiting the real-time monitoring. These regulations usually delay the product rollouts and increase the compliance costs. Also, the US FDA in 2023 has given a warning that there are regulatory penalties for data breaches that risk leading to supply chain disruptions in pharma or food logistics.
- Complex tariffs for import and trade barriers: The data published by the World Trade Organization highlights that tariffs on cold chain equipment vary from 6-11% in the various emerging markets. These tariffs further increase the entry costs for the cold chain logistics market players.
Cold Chain Logistics Market: Key Insights
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
|
Base Year |
2024 |
|
Forecast Year |
2025-2037 |
|
CAGR |
13.5% |
|
Base Year Market Size (2024) |
USD 371.97 billion |
|
Forecast Year Market Size (2037) |
USD 1.8 trillion |
|
Regional Scope |
|
Cold Chain Logistics Segmentation
Type Segment (Refrigerated Warehouses, Refrigerated Transportation {Roadways, Railways, Airways, Waterways})
The refrigerated warehouse segment for cold chain logistics market is anticipated to garner the maximum share of 65.5% by 2037. The growth of the segment is attributed to the rising demand for perishable goods from online grocery stores. The rising urbanization and altering consumer preferences resulted in the increased demand for frozen goods, requiring ultra-modern storage facilities. For example, in the UAE, Noatum Logistics joined hands with SSI Schaefer, resulting in a 91% surge in the storage capacity and enhanced cooling efficiency. These factors are bolstering the segment growth during the forecasted period.
Application Segment (Dairy & Frozen Desserts, Meat & Seafood Products, Bakery & Confectionary, Fruits & Vegetables, Pharmaceuticals, Processed Food)
The dairy and frozen desserts segment growth is fueled by increasing worldwide consumption of products such as popsicles, sorbets, ice creams, brownies, etc. Additionally, the data published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), milk and dairy products are purchased by over 6.1 billion people globally. The global surge in consumption of dairy products is highlighting the requirement for effective cold chain logistics for safe storage, maintaining the quality of the products. Also, FAO projects that almost 20.5% of the dairy output perished due to a lack of cold storage facilities.
Our in-depth analysis of the cold chain logistics market includes the following segments:
|
Type |
|
|
Temperature Type |
|
|
Technology |
|
|
Process |
|
|
Application |
|
Vishnu Nair
Head - Global Business DevelopmentCustomize this report to your requirements — connect with our consultant for personalized insights and options.
Cold Chain Logistics Industry - Regional Synopsis
North America Market Overview
The North America cold chain logistics market, mainly in the U.S. and Canada, is anticipated to garner a remarkable market share of 33.8% by 2037. The market growth is catalyzed by the rising inclusion of technology in cold chain infrastructure and increasing laws for regulatory compliance to ensure food safety. The inclusion of automation, IoT, and AI is propelling operational efficiency and further reducing the overall costs. In the U.S., the market is witnessing remarkable growth due to soaring adoption of modern technologies. In 2022, the total leasing activity reached 34.5% with 3rd party logistics providers. Also, sustainability efforts are becoming crucial to operations, with companies executing practices to reduce environmental impact.
Additionally, in Canada, supply chain management is enhanced by technological advancements, including the integration of the Internet of Things. Recently, UPS acquired Andlauer Healthcare for USD 1.62 billion shows the strategic investment in the healthcare logistics. The market players in the country are also focusing on sustainable and environment-friendly cold chain solutions to meet environmental standards. The integration of technologies such as blockchain is being adopted for supply chain transparency and to ensure accountability of the product information and compliance with the regulatory requirements.
Asia-Pacific Market Overview
The Asia-Pacific cold chain logistics market is projected to reach approximately USD 662.62 billion by 2037, growing at a CAGR of 14.86% from 2025 to 2034. The rising demand for temperature-sensitive products fuels the market growth and surge in the adoption of advanced technologies in cold storage infrastructure. For instance, in China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology are emphasizing the development of digital infrastructure for preventing the epidemic. The government is guiding and speeding up the entry of 3rd party cold chain logistics. These reasons, combined with the country's large consumer base and rising demand for perishable products, will position the country as the prominent market for cold chain logistics in the region by 2037.
Companies Dominating the Cold Chain Logistics Landscape
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
The competitive landscape of the cold chain logistics market is rapidly evolving as established key players and new entrants are investing in new technologies. Key players in the market are focused on developing products that cater to the stringent regulatory norms and consumer demand. These key players are adopting several strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, and novel product launches to enhance their product base and strengthen their market position.
|
Company Name |
Country |
Estimated Global Market Share (%) |
|
Americold Logistics |
USA |
9.2% |
|
Lineage Logistics Holding LLC |
USA |
8.5% |
|
DB Schenker |
Germany |
6.8% |
|
DHL Supply Chain |
Germany |
6.2% |
|
Nippon Express |
Japan |
5.9% |
|
Kuehne + Nagel International AG |
Switzerland |
xx |
|
Agility Logistics |
Kuwait |
xx |
|
CEVA Logistics |
France |
xx |
|
DSV A/S |
Denmark |
xx |
|
NewCold Advanced Cold Logistics |
Netherlands |
xx |
|
Snowman Logistics |
India |
xx |
|
CJ Logistics |
South Korea |
xx |
|
Linfox Logistics |
Australia |
xx |
|
Tiong Nam Logistics Holdings Bhd |
Malaysia |
xx |
|
VersaCold Logistics Services |
Canada |
xx |
Here are a few areas of focus covered in the competitive landscape of the market:
Recent Developments
- In July 2024, Thermo King, introduced introduced smart refrigeration units equipped with advanced IoT sensors. It consists of continuous temperature monitoring and alerts, thereby mitigating spoilage risks and enhancing compliance with stringent regulatory standards.
- In October 2024, Frost Cargo Pharmaceuticals joined hands with RTS Labs and developed an AI-driven solution. The solution can achieve a 99% temperature compliance rate and eliminates the need for product spoilage cases during transport.
- Report ID: 4557
- Published Date: Jun 02, 2025
- Report Format: PDF, PPT
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