Market overview
The global cold chain logistics market is worth USD 308 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 634 bn by 2036, growing at a 7.5% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Refrigerated transport is the largest by service segment.
| Scope | Revenue from temperature-controlled storage and transport of food, pharmaceuticals and other perishables through refrigerated warehouses, reefer trucks, rail and containers. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Services and Utilities |
| Value 2025 | USD 285 bn |
| Value 2026 | USD 308 bn |
| Value 2036 | USD 634 bn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 7.5% |
| Volume 2026 | 2,012 million tonnes |
| Volume 2036 | 3,401 million tonnes |
| Average price 2026 | USD 153 per tonne |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
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Cold Chain Logistics market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 308 bn |
| 2027 | USD 331 bn |
| 2028 | USD 356 bn |
| 2029 | USD 382 bn |
| 2030 | USD 411 bn |
| 2031 | USD 442 bn |
| 2032 | USD 475 bn |
| 2033 | USD 511 bn |
| 2034 | USD 549 bn |
| 2035 | USD 590 bn |
| 2036 | USD 634 bn |
Cold Chain Logistics market segmentation
By service
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerated transport | 52.0% | 51.6% | USD 160 bn | 7.4% |
| Refrigerated warehousing | 38.0% | 36.0% | USD 117 bn | 6.9% |
| Value-added cold chain services | 10.0% | 12.5% | USD 30.8 bn | 9.9% |
By temperature
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chilled | 48.0% | 45.6% | USD 148 bn | 6.9% |
| Frozen | 40.0% | 38.0% | USD 123 bn | 6.9% |
| Deep-frozen and ultra-low | 12.0% | 16.4% | USD 36.9 bn | 10.9% |
By end use
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat, fish and dairy | 32.0% | 28.8% | USD 98.5 bn | 6.4% |
| Fruit and vegetables | 24.0% | 23.7% | USD 73.9 bn | 7.4% |
| Pharmaceuticals and biologics | 18.0% | 23.4% | USD 55.4 bn | 10.4% |
| Bakery and ready meals | 14.0% | 13.8% | USD 43.1 bn | 7.4% |
| Other | 12.0% | 10.3% | USD 36.9 bn | 5.9% |
By transport mode
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road reefer trucks | 58.0% | 54.0% | USD 179 bn | 6.7% |
| Sea reefer containers | 22.0% | 23.0% | USD 67.7 bn | 8.0% |
| Air cargo | 12.0% | 15.0% | USD 36.9 bn | 9.9% |
| Rail and intermodal | 8.0% | 8.0% | USD 24.6 bn | 7.5% |
By ownership model
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Third-party logistics providers | 62.0% | 67.0% | USD 191 bn | 8.3% |
| Captive and in-house | 28.0% | 23.0% | USD 86.2 bn | 5.4% |
| Shared and cooperative networks | 10.0% | 10.0% | USD 30.8 bn | 7.5% |
Top 25 countries for cold chain logistics by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 73.9% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 91.9%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | USD 67.7 bn | 22.0% | USD 164 bn | 9.3% |
| 2 | United States | USD 64.6 bn | 21.0% | USD 114 bn | 5.8% |
| 3 | India | USD 18.5 bn | 6.0% | USD 61.5 bn | 12.8% |
| 4 | Japan | USD 15.4 bn | 5.0% | USD 22.2 bn | 3.7% |
| 5 | Germany | USD 13.9 bn | 4.5% | USD 23.5 bn | 5.4% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | USD 11.7 bn | 3.8% | USD 19.7 bn | 5.3% |
| 7 | France | USD 10.5 bn | 3.4% | USD 17.8 bn | 5.4% |
| 8 | Brazil | USD 9.2 bn | 3.0% | USD 20.3 bn | 8.2% |
| 9 | South Korea | USD 8.6 bn | 2.8% | USD 16.5 bn | 6.7% |
| 10 | Netherlands | USD 7.4 bn | 2.4% | USD 12.7 bn | 5.6% |
| 11 | Italy | USD 7.0 bn | 2.3% | USD 13.5 bn | 6.8% |
| 12 | Spain | USD 6.3 bn | 2.0% | USD 12.1 bn | 6.7% |
| 13 | Canada | USD 5.7 bn | 1.8% | USD 10.9 bn | 6.8% |
| 14 | Australia | USD 5.1 bn | 1.7% | USD 9.8 bn | 6.7% |
| 15 | Mexico | USD 4.6 bn | 1.5% | USD 10.7 bn | 8.9% |
| 16 | Thailand | USD 4.1 bn | 1.3% | USD 9.6 bn | 8.9% |
| 17 | Russia | USD 3.7 bn | 1.2% | USD 6.0 bn | 5.0% |
| 18 | Turkey | USD 3.3 bn | 1.1% | USD 6.4 bn | 6.8% |
| 19 | Indonesia | USD 3.0 bn | 1.0% | USD 7.0 bn | 8.9% |
| 20 | Belgium | USD 2.7 bn | 0.9% | USD 5.1 bn | 6.7% |
| 21 | Vietnam | USD 2.4 bn | 0.8% | USD 6.5 bn | 10.4% |
| 22 | Saudi Arabia | USD 2.2 bn | 0.7% | USD 5.1 bn | 8.9% |
| 23 | United Arab Emirates | USD 1.9 bn | 0.6% | USD 4.6 bn | 8.9% |
| 24 | Poland | USD 1.8 bn | 0.6% | USD 3.4 bn | 6.7% |
| 25 | Argentina | USD 1.6 bn | 0.5% | USD 3.0 bn | 6.8% |
| Rest of world | USD 25.0 bn | 8.1% | USD 48.7 bn | 6.9% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- Lineage
- Americold Logistics
- DHL Supply Chain
- Kuehne+Nagel
- Maersk
- Nichirei Logistics Group
- NewCold
- DSV
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Swire Cold Chain Logistics
- Carrier Transicold
- Burris Logistics
- Prime Inc
- C.R. England
- Stef
- Kloosterboer
- VersaCold Logistics Services
- Mitsubishi Logistics
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Snowman Logistics
- Stellar Value Chain Solutions
- Coldman Logistics
- Gubba Cold Storage
- Cryoport
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the cold chain logistics market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 7.5% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by service, by temperature, by end use, by transport mode, by ownership model. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the cold chain logistics market?
The global cold chain logistics market is estimated at USD 285 bn in 2025 and USD 308 bn in 2026.
How fast will the cold chain logistics market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 634 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 7.5% from 2026, an increase of USD 327 bn.
Which country is the largest market for cold chain logistics?
China is the largest market by revenue at USD 67.7 bn in 2026, 22.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 49.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 12.8% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which cold chain logistics segment is largest?
In the by service split, Refrigerated transport is the largest segment with 52.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading cold chain logistics companies?
Global leaders include Lineage, Americold Logistics, DHL Supply Chain, Kuehne+Nagel.
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