China Cold Chain Market Size 2024-2028

The China cold chain market size to increase by USD 151.50 billion at a CAGR of 27.18% between 2023 and 2028. Market growth is driven by factors such as the rising demand for frozen and perishable goods in China, growing initiatives to advance cold chains in China, and an increasing number of trade corridors. This development significantly influences market trends, particularly within the temperature-controlled logistics sector. With the surging need for pharmaceuticals, food, and healthcare products, there is an urgent requirement for proficient storage, transportation, and refrigeration solutions, such as temperature-controlled pharmaceutical packaging. As the demand for these items escalates, the supply chain must adapt to ensure timely and efficient delivery, underscoring the importance of logistics and supply chain management in meeting user expectations.

What will be the China Cold Chain Market Size During the Forecast Period?

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China Cold Chain Market Segmentation

The China cold chain market research report provides comprehensive data (region wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in "USD Billion" for the period 2024 to 2028, as well as historical data from 2018 to 2022 for the following segments. 

• Type Outlook
  • Refrigerated warehouse
  • Refrigerated transportation

• Application Outlook
  • Meat, fish, and seafood sector
  • Dairy and frozen desserts sector
  • Fruits and vegetables sector
  • Healthcare sector
  • Bakery and confectionery sector

• Product Type Outlook
  • Chilled
  • Frozen

Type Analysis

The market is a dynamic sector driven by several key elements. RFID technology and real-time tracking systems play a crucial role in monitoring and managing cold chain logistics, ensuring the integrity of temperature-sensitive goods and fresh produce. The Chinese government has enforced stringent regulations and food safety standards to uphold product quality throughout the supply chain. Warehouses, including refrigerated containers, temperature-controlled storage systems, walk-in coolers, and freezers, are integral components of the cold chain logistics infrastructure. Temperature sensors and data loggers provide accurate temperature monitoring, while AI and data analytics enhance decision-making processes. The market encompasses various segments, such as the frozen segment, deep frozen segment, and chilled segment, catering to products like frozen bakery items, frozen meat products, fruits & vegetables, and fish, meat, and seafood. The rise of e-commerce and online grocery platforms has spurred demand for efficient cold chain solutions to support the seamless delivery of perishable goods.

The refrigerated warehouse segment will contribute a major share of the cold chain market in China. Refrigerated warehouses are used primarily for the storage of perishable products that need to be kept at the right temperature, like food products and medicines. The refrigerated warehouse segment showed a gradual increase in market share with USD 16.81 billion in 2017 and continued to grow by 2021. The operation of warehouses or storage facilities that require industrial refrigeration consumes a lot of energy. To reduce energy consumption, market players are also investing in energy-efficient technologies. This is positively impacting segment growth. 

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The refrigerated warehouse segment was valued at USD 18.20 billion in 2018. The market has begun to experience rapid growth as a result of ongoing investments made in R&D and transportation infrastructure by governments and logistics companies. Consumption of frozen and processed seafood is also continuously expanding due to advancements in processing, distribution, and cold chain systems, the growing popularity of refrigerated transportation and high-end supermarkets, and customer desire for a more diverse and healthy diet that includes seafood. Hence, these factors will lead to an increase in the revenue generated from the refrigerated warehouse segment in the China cold chain market during the forecast period.

Application Analysis

Based on application, the meat, fish, and seafood sector segment holds the largest market share. The demand for cold chains will increase in China as a result of the country's rising frozen meat, fish, and seafood consumption. Moreover, a cold chain is required to avoid pathogenic microorganisms and spoilage in frozen meat, which, in turn, helps in reducing health risks. Hence, the growth in the demand for frozen food products is expected to increase the adoption of cold chains in China during the forecast period.

China Cold Chain Market Dynamics

The Chinese cold chain market is driven by advancements such as RFID technology for precise tracking, real-time tracking systems ensuring product integrity, and temperature-controlled storage systems optimizing logistics. Several key trends are shaping the cold chain industry. The increasing popularity of e-commerce is driving a growing demand for frozen segment goods. Additionally, the Chinese government's focus on food safety standards is leading to greater investment in advanced cold chain technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) integration for data analytics is also becoming increasingly important for optimizing supply chain operations. However, the cold chain market in China faces significant challenges. Meeting stringent regulations set by the Chinese government is a major hurdle for companies. Ensuring seamless cold chain logistics, particularly in remote areas, is another challenge. Furthermore, keeping up with the evolving requirements of e-commerce and online grocery platforms is essential for market expansion.

Our team of researchers has analyzed the market data extensively, with 2023 serving as the base year and 2024 as the estimated year. We have identified the key drivers, trends, and challenges for the cold chain market in China. Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a comprehensive analysis of these factors will enable companies to refine their marketing strategies and gain a competitive advantage. 

Key Market Driver

The expansion of temperature-controlled logistics market share is significantly fueled by the increasing number of trade corridors. Trade corridors refer to extensive transport networks developed between regions to foster economic growth, typically connecting cities or nations via integrated infrastructures like highways and railroads. These corridors are essential for countries' development, offering substantial economic benefits, such as job creation, poverty alleviation, and economic resilience.

China's substantial investments in these corridors aim to facilitate the movement of goods. As these trade corridors grow, the demand for refrigerated transport will increase, further driving the growth of China's cold chain market. This expansion will cater to the rising demand for temperature-controlled transportation and storage, which is particularly crucial for perishable goods like pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and food items. Quality control and safety are ensured while adhering to stringent regulations. Therefore, these factors are propelling the growth of China's cold chain market during the forecast period.

Significant Market Trends

A significant trend in China's cold chain market is the increasing requirement for extensive integrated logistics services. In this competitive landscape, numerous players are striving for market dominance. The market's profitability has attracted various entrants, such as food retailers and fleet suppliers. However, the capital-intensive character of the industry limits access to financially robust entities.

Driven by the growing demand for outsourced cold chain services across sectors like pharmaceuticals, providers now offer all-inclusive integrated solutions. These encompass services ranging from inventory management, order planning, and forecasting to warehousing and delivery supervision. Certain suppliers even extend their assistance to shipment tracking, supply chain communication, and disaster recovery services. Moreover, some companies conduct educational seminars for practitioners in cold chain logistics. These factors are set to drive China cold chain market growth over the forecast period.

Major Market Challenge

The warehousing sector's market growth is impeded by the restricted implementation of innovative technologies. This limitation is primarily due to the high capital costs associated with acquiring advanced equipment, such as RFID and automation systems. Although these technologies significantly enhance logistics efficiency, their adoption remains hindered by their financial burden.

As a result, smaller businesses and local players persist in employing traditional methods, thereby limiting the value proposition for customers in the supply chain. This constraint is expected to impede China cold chain market growth in the forecast period.

Customer Landscape

The China cold chain market forecasting report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator's stage to the laggard's stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the China cold chain market report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their growth strategies. 

Market Customer Landscape

Who are the Major Chinese Cold Chain Market Players?

Companies s are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the market.

Arcticold Food Ltd. - The company offers controlled warehousing and logistics services. The key offerings of the company include cold chain solutions for meat storage.

Global Cold Chain Alliance - The company offers third-party and temperature-controlled supply chain services. The key offerings of the company include cold chain solutions for the food industry.

We also have detailed analyses of the market's competitive landscape and offer information on 15 market Companies, including:

• Americold Realty Trust Inc.
• AP Moller Maersk AS
• Beijing Shounong Food Group Co. Ltd.
• BSI Group
• CJ Logistics Corp.
• Deutsche Post AG
• FedEx Corp.
• JD.COM
• Jin Jiang International Holdings Co. Ltd.
• John Swire and Sons Ltd.
• Kerry Logistics Network Ltd.
• Kuehne Nagel Management AG
• Nichirei Corp.
• S.F. Holding Co. Ltd.
• Shandong Gaishi International Logistics Group

Technavio report provides an in-depth analysis of the market and its players through combined qualitative and quantitative data. The analysis classifies Companies into categories based on their business approaches, including pure-play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified. Companies s are specially categorized into dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak, based on their quantitative data analysis.

Market Analyst Overview

The China cold chain market is experiencing significant growth driven by various factors. With a rising emphasis on food safety standards by the Chinese government, particularly for fresh produce and temperature-sensitive goods, the demand for efficient cold chain solutions has grown. Technologies like RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification), data analytics, and artificial intelligence are being integrated into the cold chain industry to enhance tracking, monitoring, and decision-making processes. In the packaging segment, essential solutions for maintaining product integrity in the cold chain include reefer containers, temperature-controlled storage systems, walk-in coolers, and freezers. Precise control and monitoring are ensured through temperature sensors, data loggers, and real-time tracking systems.

The growth in e-commerce and online grocery platforms has significantly increased the demand for cold chain solutions, particularly for frozen bakery items, frozen meat products, fruits and vegetables, and fish, meat, and seafood. Chinese residents with growing disposable income are fueling the demand for cold chain solutions, especially in urban areas where quick-frozen food is becoming increasingly popular. Moreover, the cold chain market in China is witnessing significant advancements in infrastructure, with logistics giants like SF Express leading the way with their self-operating cold chain warehouses. Additionally, Chinese biotech firms are utilizing cold chain logistics for medical information, genomics, and biotech research and development. The cold chain market in China is experiencing rapid growth, with e-commerce players, logistics giants, and biotech firms emerging as key players in this dynamic sector.

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What are the Key Data Covered in this China Cold Chain Market Research and Growth Report?

• CAGR of the market during the forecast period
• Detailed information on factors that will drive the market growth and forecasting between 2024 and 2028
• Precise estimation of the size of the market size and its contribution to the parent market
• Accurate predictions about upcoming market trends and changes in consumer behavior
• Growth of the market industry across China
• A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about Companies s
• Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of market Companies s

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