Cold Chain Market Report 2026

The cold chain market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $452.84 billion in 2025 to $517.35 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to global food trade growth, pharmaceutical distribution needs, urbanization, refrigerated transport expansion, healthcare logistics demand.

The cold chain market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $876.47 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to vaccine distribution growth, e-commerce grocery expansion, smart cold storage adoption, regulatory compliance tightening, investment in cold infrastructure. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of pharmaceutical cold chains, growth of frozen food distribution, adoption of real-time temperature monitoring, development of multi-temperature facilities, demand for end-to-end visibility.

Growing consumer demand for perishable foods is expected to drive the growth of the cold chain market in the forecast period. The consumption of perishable items such as dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and meat is increasing due to rising urban populations and changing dietary habits. Consumers prefer perishable goods with longer shelf life, reflecting the need to preserve quality over time. Developing regions in Asia-Pacific and Latin America are experiencing particularly strong demand for these products. For instance, in August 2023, according to the European Commission (EC), a Belgium-based executive branch of the European Union (EU), raw milk production in the EU increased by 0.8% during the first six months of 2023. Therefore, rising consumer demand for perishable foods is supporting the growth of the cold chain market.

Key players in the cold chain market are focusing on developing innovative products, including cloud-based software solutions for outbound shipments, to enhance supply chain efficiency, accuracy, and visibility. A cloud-based software solution for outbound shipments operates by storing data in the cloud, offering a comprehensive platform for managing and monitoring shipment processes. For instance, in November 2023, Sensitech Inc., a U.S.-based provider of supply chain visibility solutions, unveiled a new feature for monitoring outbound shipments within its SensiWatch platform. This upgrade significantly improves cold chain monitoring by extending real-time cargo protection to the final phase of outbound operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality perishable goods. The user-friendly, deployable cloud-based solution utilizes Sensitech IoT sensors to enable real-time monitoring of cargo from distribution centers to retail stores and restaurants. By overcoming previous limitations in cold chain monitoring, this solution delivers complete visibility into the last mile, allowing transportation managers to pinpoint and address underlying issues that may impact the quality of perishables, including food and medicine.

In September 2024, UPS, a U.S.-based logistics and package delivery company, acquired Frigo-Trans GmbH for an undisclosed sum. The purpose of the acquisition is to enhance UPS's comprehensive temperature-controlled logistics solutions for healthcare clients across Europe. Frigo-Trans GmbH is a Germany-based healthcare cold chain logistics firm.

Major companies operating in the cold chain market report include Americold Logistics, Burris Logistics, Nichirei Corporation, United States Cold Storage, Lineage Logistics Holdings, VersaCold Logistics Services, Congebec Inc, Snowman Logistics Ltd, Conestoga Cold Storage, Cold Box India LLP, Singhania Logistics & Distribution Pvt. Ltd, Sinotrans Shanghai Cold Chain Company, Global Cold Chain Solutions, Logifrio, Localfrio S/A, ComFrio, Friozem Armazens Frigorificos Ltda, RSA Cold Chain, Sharjah cold stores, Kerry Logistics Network Limited, Maersk, XPO Logistics, Agility, GEFCO South Africa.

North America was the largest region in the cold chain market in 2025. Asia-Pacific region is projected to record the fastest growth over the forecast period. The regions covered in the cold chain market report include Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cold chain market report include Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The cold chain market includes revenues earned by entities by refrigerated containers, cold rooms, chillers, cold boxes, and blast freezers. 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.

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