Cold Chain Packaging Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034

Cold Chain Packaging Market (By Product: Insulated Container and Boxes, Cold Packs, Crates, Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers, Labels; By Material: Insulating Materials, Refrigerants; By Application: Dairy Products, Fruit and Pulp Concentrates, Processed Food, Fruits and Vegetables, Bakery and Confectioneries, Pharmaceuticals; Packaging Format: Reusable Packaging and Disposable Packaging) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Regional Outlook, and Forecast 2024 – 2033

  • Last Updated : 12 Apr 2024
  • Report Code : 1618
  • Category : Packaging

The global cold chain packaging market size was valued at USD 26.95 billion in 2023 and is expected to surpass around USD 88.21 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 12.61% during the forecast period 2024 to 2033.

Cold Chain Packaging Market Size 2024 to 2033

Key Takeaway

  • The cold packs segment is growing at a CAGR of 22% from 2024 to 2033.
  • The fruits and vegetables segment is poised to grow at a CAGR of 21% from 2024 to 2033. 
  • The processed food segment is projected to reach at a CAGR of 21.5% from 2024 to 2033. 

Cold Chain Packaging Market in U.S. 2024 To 2033

The U.S. cold chain packaging market size reached USD 6.64 billion in 2023 and is projected to be worth around USD 22.96 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 13.23% between 2024 and 2033.

U.S. Cold Chain Packaging Market Size 2024 To 2033

North America was the leading cold chain packaging market accounting for a revenue share of around 35.13% in 2023. This growth is attributed to the increased production volumes of meat, processed food, and fruits & vegetables. The demand for these processed and fresh food products is higher in the region. Furthermore, the high standard of living, busy and hectic schedule of the consumers, high disposable income, and increased demand for the packaged food has resulted in the higher demand for the cold chain packaging. Furthermore, the presence of top pharmaceutical companies in the region and the development of several drugs and vaccines that requires cold storage has fueled the adoption of the cold chain packaging in the pharmaceutical sector. The rising health consciousness among the consumers is spurring the demand for the organic food products especially fruits and vegetables, which is expected to drive the growth of the cold chain packaging market.

Asia Pacific is projected to be the most opportunistic market during the forecast period. This growth is attributable to the surging penetration of the top food processing and pharmaceutical companies in the region. Asia Pacific is the home to around 60% of the global population. The presence of huge youth population, rising employment, changing demographics, and rising disposable income are the major factors that are fueling the demand for the processed food. The growing demand for the fruits and vegetables along with the fresh meat and seafood in the region is another prominent driver of the cold chain packaging market in Asia Pacific.

Cold Chain Packaging Market Share, By Region, 2023 (%)

Growth Factors

Temperature controlling and monitoring has become an essential part of the modern day logistics that ensures the safety and quality of the product during transportation. The key players in the cold chain packaging market are investing in the development of new and efficient products that can effectively tackle the challenges and complexities associated with the cold chain logistics. The efficient cold chain packaging can reduce miscellaneous losses, keeps the product quality intact, and can increase the profit margins. The rapidly surging demand for the cold chain packaging in the food processing industry is expected to drive the growth of the cold chain market significantly during the forecast period. The rising population, increasing personal disposable income, and changing lifestyle of the consumers are some of the prominent factors that are driving the adoption of the cold chain packaging across the various applications. The demand for the packaged food, processed food, and ready-to-eat food products is surging with the changing lifestyle. The various food products such as dairy food products, sea food, meat, frozen fruits, and vegetables require efficient cold chain packaging during storage and transportation. The rising technological advancements in the food packaging is significantly driving the market growth across the globe.

Report Scope of the Cold Chain Packaging Market

Report Coverage Details
Growth Rate from 2024 to 2033 CAGR of 12.61%
Market Size in 2023 USD 26.95 Billion
Market Size by 2033 USD 88.21 Billion
North America Market Share in 2023 35.13%
Base Year 2023
Forecast Period 2024 to 2033
Segments Covered Product, Material, Application, Packaging Format, Geography
Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa

 

Product Insights

Depending on the product, the global cold chain packaging market was dominated by the insulated container & boxes segment which accounted for over 58% of the market share in 2023. The high demand for reusable insulated containers and boxes for the purpose of storing fruits, vegetables, and processed food has led to the growth of this segment. The increased pressure on the pharma companies and the top food companies to reduce the costs of manufacturing has led to the increased adoption of reusable insulated boxes and containers, which has a significant role in the growth of this segment across the globe.

On the other hand, temperature-controlled pallet shippers are expected to be the most opportunistic segment during the forecast period. The easy and wider availability of several pallet shippers made of polyurethane, low-density polyethylene, and expanded polystyrene is positively contributing to the growth of the temperature-controlled pallet shippers segment. It is extensively used for shipping biological samples, frozen food products, and vaccines across the globe.

Material Insights

On the basis of material, the insulating materials segment constituted over 66% of the revenue and dominated the global cold chain packaging market in 2023. The insulating materials segment is further segregated into vacuum insulated panel, EPS, cryogenic tank, PUR, and others. The extensive demand for the EPS segment in the shipping sector has led to the dominance of this segment in the global cold chain market.

The refrigerant is expected to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. This segment includes hydrocarbons, fluorocarbons, and inorganics. The surging inclination towards the low global warming potential and low ozone depletion potential gases is driving the adoption of the refrigerant segment. The rising concerns over ozone layer depletion and global warming has shifted the focus towards the adoption of sustainable packaging solutions across the globe. The refrigerant materials can help in effectively counter the challenges related to the global warming. The end users of the cold packaging are inclining towards these packaging materials to reduce costs and achieve sustainability goals. Therefore, this segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing in the upcoming years.

Application Insights

Depending on the application, the fish, seafood, and meat segment garnered a revenue share of around 26% and led the global cold chain packaging market in 2023. The rising demand for the meat and sea food across the globe and the growing production of the fish and meat across globe is fueling the demand for the cold chain packaging. The bio-physiochemical changes that occurs in the meat and fish products naturally is the major factor that has boosted the adoption of the cold chain packaging in the fish, seafood, and meat sector. The freshness of the meat products needs to be maintained strictly till it reaches the consumer. Therefore, the increased need for maintaining the quality and freshness of the meat products, the demand for the cold chain packaging is higher in this sector.

The processed food is expected to be the most lucrative and opportunistic during the forecast period. The demand for the processed food products such as chocolates, canned food, pickles, jams, and canned meat is higher in the developed nations and it is gaining a rapid traction in the developing countries as well. The presence of high population in the developing nations and the rising disposable income is fueling the demand for the processed food among the population. The easy-to-cook and ready-to-eat food products are gaining rapid traction among the consumers, which is expected to drive the growth of this segment in the forthcoming future.

Recent Developments

  • In May 2019, Sealed Air completed the acquisition of a leading automated bagging systems manufacturer, Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. This acquisition aimed at expanding the portfolio of the Sealed Air in protective packaging segment.
  • In January 2018, Softbox systems completed the acquisition of TP3 Global to strengthen its position in the market and expand its product portfolio.

Cold Chain Packaging Market Companies

  • Cascades Inc.
  • Cold Chain Technologies
  • Creopack
  • Cryopak A TCP Company
  • Intelsius
  • Pelican Products, Inc.
  • Softbox
  • Sofrigam
  • Sonoco ThermoSafs
  • va-Q-tec

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product

  • Insulated Container and Boxes
    • Large
    • Medium
    • Small
    • X-Small
    • Petite
  • Cold Packs
  • Crates
    • Dairy
    • Pharmaceutical
    • Fisheries
    • Horticulture
  • Temperature Controlled Pallet Shippers
  • Labels

By Material

  • Insulating Materials
    • Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
    • Polyurethane rigid foam (PUR)
    • Vacuum Insulated Panel (VIP)
    • Cryogenic Tanks
    • Others
  • Refrigerants
    • Fluorocarbons
    • Hydrocarbon
    • Inorganics

By Application

  • Dairy Products
    • Milk
    • Butter
    • Cheese
    • Ice Cream
  • Fruit and Pulp Concentrates
  • Fish, Seafood, and Meat
  • Processed Food
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Bakery and Confectioneries
  • Pharmaceuticals
    • Vaccines
    • Blood Banking
  • Others

By Packaging Format

  • Reusable Packaging
  • Disposable Packaging

By Geography

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • U.K.
    • Germany
    • France
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • Malaysia
    • Philippines
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Rest of Latin America
  • Middle East & Africa (MEA)
    • GCC
    • North Africa
    • South Africa
    • Rest of the Middle East & Africa

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Frequently Asked Questions

According to Precedence Research, the global cold chain packaging market size was reached at USD 26.95 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to rake USD 88.21 billion by 2033.

The global cold chain packaging market is expected to drive growth at a CAGR of 12.61% during the forecast period 2024 to 2033.

The major players operating in the cold chain packaging market are Cascades Inc., Cold Chain Technologies, Creopack, Cryopak A TCP Company, Intelsius, Pelican Products, Inc., Softbox, Sofrigam, Sonoco ThermoSafs, and va-Q-tec.

The growing demand for the various fresh and processed food products and the development of drugs and vaccines that requires special temperature controlled storage or packaging are the major factors that are expected to augment the growth of the global cold chain packaging market during the forecast period.

The North America dominated the global cold chain packaging market in 2023 and will lead in the near future.

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