US refrigerated warehouse capacity in 2023

Every two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes a report presenting data on the number of refrigerated warehouses in the country. The latest biennal report was published late January 2024, presenting data for the year 2023.

 

The USDA estimated gross refrigerated storage capacity in the US to be around 104.8 million cubic metres (3.70 billion cubic feet) in 2023. Usable refrigerated storage capacity, defined as the actual area used for storing commodities, represented 81% of the gross space. The total number of refrigerated warehouses was 900.

 

There was about 17.41 million cubic metres (0.615 billion cubic feet) of usable cooler capacity, defined as spaces that maintain temperatures between 0 and 10°C (0 and 50°F). There was approximately 68.34 million cubic metres (2.413 billion cubic feet) of usable freezer capacity, defined as spaces that maintain temperatures of about –17.8°C (0°F) or lower.

The authors of the USDA survey indicate that their figures should be considered as minimum figures. Indeed, the USDA survey only included warehouses that stored food products for 30 days or more at a temperature of 10° C (50° F) or lower. Facilities where the entire inventory was turned over more than once a month were excluded.

 

The report is available here.