The global cold chain market is expanding with considerable growth potential over the next five years. The growth of this market can be attributed to the growth of international trade of perishable foods, technological advancements in refrigerated storage & transport, government support for infrastructure development of the cold chain industry and increase of consumer demand for perishable foods. Also, expansion of food retail chains by multi-nationals will enhance international trade and impact the growth of the cold chain market.
Dairy & Frozen Desserts
Dairy & frozen desserts is estimated to account for the largest market share in the cold chain market in 2017, due to their need for constant temperature control being temperature sensitive products, dust, and exposure to sunlight. Dairy & frozen desserts are witnessing high demand due to economic growth and rapid urbanization, along with sophisticated marketing channels which have led to significant changes in dietary patterns. Government guidelines in China state that milk is a major source of calcium and protein, and recommend regular milk consumption, which has led to milk and dairy products being incorporated into the daily diet of consumers.
Frozen Products
The frozen products segment is estimated to account for the largest share in the cold chain market in terms of value in 2017. A wide variety of products such as ice cream, meat, and seafood are stored at freezing temperatures of between -18° C to -24° C. Freezing preserves the taste, texture, and nutritional value of foods better than other preservation methods. Cold chain for frozen foods provides uninterrupted handling of the product within a low temperature environment during the steps of the value chain, which include harvest, collection, packing, processing, storage, transport, and marketing until it reaches the final consumer.
As per Technavio research, the demand for seafood continues to increase globally, and the significant population growth in China, India, and Brazil constitutes an important demand driver in the frozen fish and seafood industry. Increased demand for seafood has led to a rise in its imports and exports among countries, which require cold storage and transportation. China and Norway were the largest exporters of seafood in 2015.
The research further highlights that growth in the global perishable commodity production has resulted in the reefer manufacturers increasing the capacity of their containers. Globally, there is a change in the food consumption pattern, where consumers prefer ready-to-eat frozen prepared meals that are convenient. Hence, these require efficient logistic services.
Europe the Most Lucrative Market For Cold Chain
In 2017, the European region is estimated to hold a significant share in the global cold chain market. The major drivers for this significant share of the European region are due to the consumers demand for quality attributes such as safety, taste, and freshness in their food. The current trend in the refrigerated transport market in Europe is that food product manufacturers and retailers move from local service providers to larger Pan-European service providers due to the development of network-focused technological solutions, technological upgradation in refrigerated systems & transport, and focus on implementation of quality standards set by public and private sectors.
