India Cold Chain Logistics Market Overview, 2029

In India, the cold chain logistics sector has emerged as a vital component of the country's supply chain infrastructure, showcasing remarkable growth in recent years. The industry, driven by a confluence of factors, plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of temperature-sensitive goods, ranging from perishable foods to pharmaceuticals and vaccines. With agriculture being the backbone of India's economy, the cold chain logistics market plays a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless transportation of perishable agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy items. The sector has become indispensable in connecting farmers to diverse markets and minimising post-harvest losses. A central sector programme was authorised in 2017 with a total commitment of INR 6,000 crore to construct modern infrastructure with effective supply chain management from farm gates to retail outlets. This is one of the many government initiatives related to the cold chain logistics business. The Indian government has given its approval for this scheme to continue, allocating INR 4600 crore until March 2026. The programme includes several component schemes, such as Value Addition Infrastructure and Integrated Cold Chain, among others. The nation needs an extra 3.5 million MT of cold storage capacity in addition to the existing all-India cold chain infrastructure capacity. 376 cold chain projects have been approved under the Integrated Cold Chain plan, and 268 of those projects have been operationalized under the Value Addition Infrastructure programme.

According to the research report "India Cold Chain Logistics Market Overview, 2029," published by Bonafide Research, the India Cold Chain Logistics market is projected to add more than USD 13 Billion from 2024 to 2029. India's vast agricultural sector heavily relies on cold chain logistics to preserve the freshness and quality of perishable produce. The demand for efficient cold storage and transportation is particularly high for fruits, vegetables, dairy, and other temperature-sensitive agricultural products. Evolving consumer preferences and an increasing demand for processed and frozen foods have led to a rise in the demand for cold chain logistics in India. Urbanisation and a growing middle class have contributed to the popularity of convenience foods, driving the need for efficient temperature-controlled supply chains. The awareness of food waste and the environmental impact of supply chains has increased. Cold chain logistics helps reduce food waste by extending the shelf life of perishable products, aligning with sustainability goals. Beyond pharmaceuticals, the healthcare and biotechnology sectors contribute to the demand for cold chain logistics. Biotechnological products, diagnostic specimens, and other medical supplies often require specialised temperature-controlled transportation and storage. India is a significant exporter of perishable goods, including fruits, vegetables, and processed foods. To meet international quality standards and compete in the global market, the cold chain logistics sector plays a crucial role in preserving the quality of exported products.

Based on the types, they are segmented into Refrigerated Warehouse and Refrigerated Transport. Among them, the refrigerated warehouse leads the market. Refrigerated warehouses are crucial for preserving the quality and freshness of perishable goods, including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and processed foods. These facilities provide controlled-temperature environments that extend the shelf life of products, reducing post-harvest losses and maintaining product integrity. India's diverse climate zones, ranging from tropical to temperate, create challenges for the storage of temperature-sensitive goods. Refrigerated warehouses help overcome these challenges by offering a controlled environment, ensuring that products remain within the desired temperature range regardless of external conditions. Ongoing capacity expansion and the modernization of refrigerated warehouse facilities cater to the increasing demand for cold chain logistics services. Companies invest in upgrading infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the market. In terms of the temperature types, they are segmented into frozen and chilled. In India, chilled significantly contributes to the market. India has a rich and diverse culinary culture, and the chilled temperature segment is crucial for the storage and transportation of a wide range of perishable food products. Chilled conditions are suitable for items like dairy products, fresh fruits, vegetables, and ready-to-eat meals, ensuring they remain fresh and safe for consumption. As urbanisation increases, consumer preferences shift towards fresh and high-quality food products. Chilled temperature logistics support the supply chain for supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores, meeting the demand for a variety of chilled products in urban areas. The growth of e-commerce and online grocery shopping has increased the demand for chilled-temperature logistics. Consumers now expect the delivery of chilled products, including fresh produce and dairy items, to their doorsteps when ordering online.

According to the report, the technology is bifurcated into dry ice, gel packs, eutectic plates, liquid nitrogen, and quilts, among them in India. Dry Ice A majorly leading segment, dry ice is commonly used in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries to maintain the required low temperatures during the transportation of vaccines, medicines, and other temperature-sensitive medical products. Given the importance of these sectors, the demand for dry ice could be substantial. With the ongoing emphasis on vaccine distribution, especially during global health crises, dry ice could be crucial for maintaining the cold chain integrity of vaccines. This is particularly relevant in regions where access to continuous refrigeration might be challenging. Based on the application segmented into dairy and frozen desserts, pharmaceuticals, processed food, meat, fish, and seafood, bakery and confectionery, fruits and vegetables, and others, in India, dairy and frozen desserts significantly contribute to the market. Dairy products and frozen desserts are highly perishable and sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Maintaining a specific and consistent temperature throughout the supply chain is crucial to preserving the quality, texture, and safety of these products. The growing consumer preference for frozen desserts, including ice cream, frozen yoghurts, and other treats, has led to an increased demand for cold chain logistics. This sector's expansion requires a reliable and efficient cold chain to ensure that frozen desserts reach consumers in optimal condition.

Considered in this report:
• Geography: India
• Historic year: 2018
• Base year: 2023
• Estimated year: 2024
• Forecast year: 2029



Aspects covered in this report:
• India Cold Chain Logistics market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Types
• Refrigerated Warehouse
• Refrigerates Transportation

By Temperature Types
• Frozen
• Chilled

By Technology Types
• Dry Ice
• Gel Packs
• Eutectic Plates
• Liquid Nitrogen
• Quilts

By Application
• Dairy and frozen desserts
• Pharmaceuticals
• Process food
• Meat, Fish & Seafood
• Bakery and confectionery
• Fruits and vegetables
• Others

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, and annual reports of companies, analyzing the government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience:
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the Cold Chain Logistics industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.