China’s cold chain policy drives 5% increase in cold storage capacity

According to China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP), China’s total cold storage capacity reached 277 million cubic meters in 2025, of which 3.5 million cubic meters were added in the fourth quarter ^[1]. This represents a 5.53% year-on-year increase.

 

The expansion of the cold storage capacity in China is driven by several policies ^[2]. For instance, in October 2025, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs expanded the list of counties designated for the construction of agricultural cold chain logistics facilities, an initiative started in 2020 to support the transportation of agricultural products from rural areas to urban centres and reduce agricultural product losses during the post-harvest stage ^[3]  (see our previous article).

 

In December 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission (NRDC) issued a Notice on Implementing Policies for Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and Consumer Goods Trade-in, which supports the retirement/renewal of outdated operating trucks, among other commercial and domestic equipment ^[2].

 

As of 2025, the China’s refrigerated truck fleet was estimated at 587,900 units, a year-on-year increase of about 19% ^[1]. In the first half of 2025, sales of “new energy” refrigerated truck sales increased by 119.6%, representing 10,548 units sold ^[4]. Their penetration rate reached 35.8% at the end of June 2025, up 16.5%. In October 2025, a series of administrative measures were issued by the NRDC, the Ministry of Commerce and other governmental agencies to further support the implementation of a low-carbon model for cold chain logistics covering transportation, packaging, and facility operations ^[2]. 

 

 

"New energy" refrigerated trucks include electric trucks, hybrids as well as trucks fuelled by natural gas or hydrogen ^[5].

 

 

Sources

[1] China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).  Cold Chain professional Committee. Latest industry data https://www.chaincloud.org.cn/

[2] China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).  Cold Chain professional Committee. A review of national cold chain policies in the second half of 2025. https://www.chaincloud.org.cn/news/detail/1092813096721842176

[3] Li, T., Xue, L., Liu, P., Zhang, S., Huang, J., & Sun, J. (2025). The impact of cold storage facilities implemented at the production site on mitigating fruit and vegetable losses in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 524, 146420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146420

[4] Global Times. Aug 18, 2025 https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341107.shtml

[5] https://english.www.gov.cn/policies/latestreleases/202212/15/content_WS639ada84c6d0a757729e47de.html