GITNUXREPORT 2026

Cold Storage Warehouse Industry Statistics

The cold storage industry is expanding rapidly due to strong demand and significant investments.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

U.S. cold storage vacancy rate dropped to 6.2% in 2023 from 8.1% in 2021.

Statistic 2

Total U.S. cold storage space exceeds 500 million square feet as of 2023.

Statistic 3

Average cold storage facility size in the U.S. is 150,000 square feet, with new builds averaging 200,000 sq ft.

Statistic 4

U.S. public refrigerated warehouses number 1,450 as of 2022.

Statistic 5

Frozen capacity utilization in U.S. warehouses averaged 92% in 2023.

Statistic 6

New cold storage developments in the U.S. totaled 25 million sq ft under construction in 2023.

Statistic 7

Chilled capacity in the U.S. accounts for 38% of total cold storage space.

Statistic 8

Global cold storage capacity is estimated at 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2023.

Statistic 9

U.S. Southeast region holds 22% of national cold storage capacity.

Statistic 10

Average rent for cold storage space in the U.S. rose 12% to $10.50 per sq ft in 2023.

Statistic 11

U.S. cold storage asking rents averaged $9.85/sq ft NNN in 2023.

Statistic 12

Texas leads U.S. states with 45 million sq ft cold storage space.

Statistic 13

Frozen fruit capacity in U.S. increased 5% to 250 million cu ft.

Statistic 14

70% of U.S. cold storage is Class A facilities built post-2010.

Statistic 15

Global port-related cold storage capacity grew 8% in 2022.

Statistic 16

U.S. facility count grew to 1,500 public cold warehouses in 2023.

Statistic 17

Chilled meat storage utilization at 89% in Europe.

Statistic 18

New York metro area cold storage vacancy at 4.5%.

Statistic 19

Average clear height in new cold storage builds is 36 feet.

Statistic 20

Cold storage cap rates compressed to 4.8% in prime markets.

Statistic 21

U.S. cold storage industry employs over 85,000 workers directly in 2023.

Statistic 22

Average annual wage for cold storage warehouse workers in the U.S. is $48,500 as of 2022.

Statistic 23

Labor turnover rate in cold storage facilities averages 25% annually due to harsh working conditions.

Statistic 24

65% of U.S. cold storage jobs require no formal education beyond high school.

Statistic 25

Safety incident rate in cold storage warehouses is 4.2 per 100 workers, higher than general warehousing.

Statistic 26

Training hours per employee in cold storage average 40 hours annually for food safety compliance.

Statistic 27

Female workforce participation in U.S. cold storage is 28%, up from 22% in 2015.

Statistic 28

Shortage of skilled refrigeration technicians affects 70% of cold storage operators.

Statistic 29

Overtime hours in cold storage warehouses averaged 12% of total paid hours in 2022.

Statistic 30

Unionized workforce represents 15% of U.S. cold storage employees.

Statistic 31

U.S. cold storage employment growth of 3.1% YoY in 2023.

Statistic 32

52% of cold storage workers are aged 25-44.

Statistic 33

Forklift operators comprise 28% of cold storage workforce.

Statistic 34

Injury claims from slips in freezers average 1.8 per 100 employees.

Statistic 35

Diversity training implemented in 60% of large facilities.

Statistic 36

Remote monitoring reduces on-site staff by 15%.

Statistic 37

Hispanic workers make up 42% of U.S. cold storage labor force.

Statistic 38

Annual benefits cost per employee averages $12,000.

Statistic 39

Temp staffing used by 55% of facilities during peak seasons.

Statistic 40

Automation training programs cover 40% of workforce.

Statistic 41

The U.S. cold storage warehouse capacity reached 2.68 billion cubic feet as of January 1, 2023, marking a 2.5% increase from the previous year.

Statistic 42

Global cold chain market size was valued at $242.39 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $647.47 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 17.9%.

Statistic 43

North American cold storage market grew by 4.2% in 2022, driven by demand for frozen foods.

Statistic 44

U.S. cold storage industry revenue reached $28.4 billion in 2023.

Statistic 45

Cold storage warehouse construction in the U.S. saw investments of $2.1 billion in 2022.

Statistic 46

The Asia-Pacific cold chain logistics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2023 to 2030.

Statistic 47

European cold storage capacity expanded by 3.8% annually between 2018-2022.

Statistic 48

U.S. third-party logistics (3PL) cold storage providers hold 45% market share in 2023.

Statistic 49

Global refrigerated warehousing market valued at $85.2 billion in 2021, projected to $143.5 billion by 2030.

Statistic 50

Demand for cold storage in the U.S. increased by 15% year-over-year in Q4 2022 due to e-commerce groceries.

Statistic 51

Global cold chain market for pharmaceuticals is $15.2 billion in 2023.

Statistic 52

U.S. cold storage net absorption reached 18 million sq ft in 2023.

Statistic 53

Cold storage development pipeline in U.S. is 40 million sq ft as of mid-2023.

Statistic 54

Latin America cold storage market grows at 10.5% CAGR to 2030.

Statistic 55

REITs control 60% of U.S. institutional cold storage assets.

Statistic 56

Australia cold storage capacity utilization hit 95% in 2023.

Statistic 57

Middle East cold storage investments reached $1.2 billion in 2022.

Statistic 58

U.K. cold storage market valued at £2.5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 59

Organic food storage demand grew 20% in U.S. cold warehouses.

Statistic 60

U.S. cold storage M&A deals totaled 15 in 2023, $4B value.

Statistic 61

U.S. Southeast holds 22% of national cold storage capacity, leading in poultry storage.

Statistic 62

California accounts for 15% of U.S. cold storage space, focused on produce.

Statistic 63

Protein products occupy 55% of U.S. frozen storage capacity.

Statistic 64

Fruits and vegetables represent 18% of global cold storage utilization.

Statistic 65

E-commerce drives 25% of cold storage demand in urban areas like NYC and LA.

Statistic 66

India has over 10 million metric tons of cold storage capacity, mostly for potatoes.

Statistic 67

China leads globally with 120 million cubic meters cold storage capacity.

Statistic 68

Dairy products account for 12% of U.S. chilled storage space.

Statistic 69

Midwest U.S. region specializes in 30% of meat and poultry cold storage.

Statistic 70

Florida's cold storage boom tied to seafood, 18% national share.

Statistic 71

Bakery products hold 10% of chilled capacity globally.

Statistic 72

Pharma cold chain requires -80°C capacity growing 22% annually.

Statistic 73

Inland Empire, CA, has 25 million sq ft cold space for imports.

Statistic 74

Poultry sector uses 28% of total U.S. frozen space.

Statistic 75

Brazil cold storage capacity at 1.5 million tons for beef exports.

Statistic 76

Beverages occupy 8% of global refrigerated warehouse space.

Statistic 77

Chicago market vacancy at 5.8%, protein dominant.

Statistic 78

Flowers and perishables 15% in Netherlands cold storage.

Statistic 79

45% of cold storage facilities use automation to reduce labor needs by 20-30%.

Statistic 80

IoT sensors in cold storage warehouses monitor temperature in 85% of facilities over 100,000 sq ft.

Statistic 81

Average age of refrigeration equipment in U.S. cold storage is 12 years, with 25% over 20 years old.

Statistic 82

Energy consumption per sq ft in cold storage is 50 kWh/month, 3x higher than dry warehouses.

Statistic 83

Robotic palletizers adopted by 35% of large cold storage operators, improving throughput by 40%.

Statistic 84

Blockchain for temperature tracking used in 12% of global cold chains.

Statistic 85

CO2 refrigeration systems installed in 22% of new U.S. cold storage builds in 2023.

Statistic 86

AI predictive maintenance reduces downtime by 28% in equipped facilities.

Statistic 87

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) penetration in cold storage is 78%.

Statistic 88

Solar panels power 8% of U.S. cold storage facilities partially.

Statistic 89

RFID tracking systems in 62% of U.S. cold storage.

Statistic 90

Ammonia refrigeration systems used in 48% of facilities over 200k sq ft.

Statistic 91

LED lighting retrofits save 60% energy in 75% of warehouses.

Statistic 92

AS/RS systems boost density by 50% in automated facilities.

Statistic 93

Drone inventory checks piloted in 5% of large sites.

Statistic 94

Variable speed drives on compressors cut energy 25%.

Statistic 95

Digital twins used for 18% of new builds optimization.

Statistic 96

5G connectivity enables real-time monitoring in 30% facilities.

Statistic 97

EV charging stations at 12% of cold storage sites.

1/97

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Behind every frozen pizza and fresh grocery delivery lies a vast and booming industry, as evidenced by the cold storage warehouse sector's explosive growth to a global market projected to reach $647 billion by 2028.

Key Takeaways

The U.S. cold storage warehouse capacity reached 2.68 billion cubic feet as of January 1, 2023, marking a 2.5% increase from the previous year.
Global cold chain market size was valued at $242.39 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $647.47 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 17.9%.
North American cold storage market grew by 4.2% in 2022, driven by demand for frozen foods.
U.S. cold storage vacancy rate dropped to 6.2% in 2023 from 8.1% in 2021.
Total U.S. cold storage space exceeds 500 million square feet as of 2023.
Average cold storage facility size in the U.S. is 150,000 square feet, with new builds averaging 200,000 sq ft.
U.S. cold storage industry employs over 85,000 workers directly in 2023.
Average annual wage for cold storage warehouse workers in the U.S. is $48,500 as of 2022.
Labor turnover rate in cold storage facilities averages 25% annually due to harsh working conditions.
45% of cold storage facilities use automation to reduce labor needs by 20-30%.
IoT sensors in cold storage warehouses monitor temperature in 85% of facilities over 100,000 sq ft.
Average age of refrigeration equipment in U.S. cold storage is 12 years, with 25% over 20 years old.
U.S. Southeast holds 22% of national cold storage capacity, leading in poultry storage.
California accounts for 15% of U.S. cold storage space, focused on produce.
Protein products occupy 55% of U.S. frozen storage capacity.

The cold storage industry is expanding rapidly due to strong demand and significant investments.

Capacity Statistics

U.S. cold storage vacancy rate dropped to 6.2% in 2023 from 8.1% in 2021.
Total U.S. cold storage space exceeds 500 million square feet as of 2023.
Average cold storage facility size in the U.S. is 150,000 square feet, with new builds averaging 200,000 sq ft.
U.S. public refrigerated warehouses number 1,450 as of 2022.
Frozen capacity utilization in U.S. warehouses averaged 92% in 2023.
New cold storage developments in the U.S. totaled 25 million sq ft under construction in 2023.
Chilled capacity in the U.S. accounts for 38% of total cold storage space.
Global cold storage capacity is estimated at 1.2 billion cubic meters in 2023.
U.S. Southeast region holds 22% of national cold storage capacity.
Average rent for cold storage space in the U.S. rose 12% to $10.50 per sq ft in 2023.
U.S. cold storage asking rents averaged $9.85/sq ft NNN in 2023.
Texas leads U.S. states with 45 million sq ft cold storage space.
Frozen fruit capacity in U.S. increased 5% to 250 million cu ft.
70% of U.S. cold storage is Class A facilities built post-2010.
Global port-related cold storage capacity grew 8% in 2022.
U.S. facility count grew to 1,500 public cold warehouses in 2023.
Chilled meat storage utilization at 89% in Europe.
New York metro area cold storage vacancy at 4.5%.
Average clear height in new cold storage builds is 36 feet.
Cold storage cap rates compressed to 4.8% in prime markets.

Capacity Statistics Interpretation

The cold storage industry is a brrr-isk business where America's 500 million square feet of freezer space is so packed, with vacancy plummeting and rents climbing, that your next ice cream cone is practically elbowing for position.

Employment and Workforce

U.S. cold storage industry employs over 85,000 workers directly in 2023.
Average annual wage for cold storage warehouse workers in the U.S. is $48,500 as of 2022.
Labor turnover rate in cold storage facilities averages 25% annually due to harsh working conditions.
65% of U.S. cold storage jobs require no formal education beyond high school.
Safety incident rate in cold storage warehouses is 4.2 per 100 workers, higher than general warehousing.
Training hours per employee in cold storage average 40 hours annually for food safety compliance.
Female workforce participation in U.S. cold storage is 28%, up from 22% in 2015.
Shortage of skilled refrigeration technicians affects 70% of cold storage operators.
Overtime hours in cold storage warehouses averaged 12% of total paid hours in 2022.
Unionized workforce represents 15% of U.S. cold storage employees.
U.S. cold storage employment growth of 3.1% YoY in 2023.
52% of cold storage workers are aged 25-44.
Forklift operators comprise 28% of cold storage workforce.
Injury claims from slips in freezers average 1.8 per 100 employees.
Diversity training implemented in 60% of large facilities.
Remote monitoring reduces on-site staff by 15%.
Hispanic workers make up 42% of U.S. cold storage labor force.
Annual benefits cost per employee averages $12,000.
Temp staffing used by 55% of facilities during peak seasons.
Automation training programs cover 40% of workforce.

Employment and Workforce Interpretation

America’s cold storage industry, a $48,500-a-year chill that keeps your food frozen, is paradoxically a hotbed of high turnover, safety hazards, and a relentless push to diversify and automate its way out of a frosty labor crunch.

Market Size and Growth

The U.S. cold storage warehouse capacity reached 2.68 billion cubic feet as of January 1, 2023, marking a 2.5% increase from the previous year.
Global cold chain market size was valued at $242.39 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $647.47 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 17.9%.
North American cold storage market grew by 4.2% in 2022, driven by demand for frozen foods.
U.S. cold storage industry revenue reached $28.4 billion in 2023.
Cold storage warehouse construction in the U.S. saw investments of $2.1 billion in 2022.
The Asia-Pacific cold chain logistics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.2% from 2023 to 2030.
European cold storage capacity expanded by 3.8% annually between 2018-2022.
U.S. third-party logistics (3PL) cold storage providers hold 45% market share in 2023.
Global refrigerated warehousing market valued at $85.2 billion in 2021, projected to $143.5 billion by 2030.
Demand for cold storage in the U.S. increased by 15% year-over-year in Q4 2022 due to e-commerce groceries.
Global cold chain market for pharmaceuticals is $15.2 billion in 2023.
U.S. cold storage net absorption reached 18 million sq ft in 2023.
Cold storage development pipeline in U.S. is 40 million sq ft as of mid-2023.
Latin America cold storage market grows at 10.5% CAGR to 2030.
REITs control 60% of U.S. institutional cold storage assets.
Australia cold storage capacity utilization hit 95% in 2023.
Middle East cold storage investments reached $1.2 billion in 2022.
U.K. cold storage market valued at £2.5 billion in 2023.
Organic food storage demand grew 20% in U.S. cold warehouses.
U.S. cold storage M&A deals totaled 15 in 2023, $4B value.

Market Size and Growth Interpretation

The world is building an ice-cold empire at a feverish pace, proving that whether it's a steak, a vaccine, or your weekly groceries, humanity's most pressing question is no longer "what's for dinner?" but "where can we possibly keep it all?"

Regional and Sectoral Distribution

U.S. Southeast holds 22% of national cold storage capacity, leading in poultry storage.
California accounts for 15% of U.S. cold storage space, focused on produce.
Protein products occupy 55% of U.S. frozen storage capacity.
Fruits and vegetables represent 18% of global cold storage utilization.
E-commerce drives 25% of cold storage demand in urban areas like NYC and LA.
India has over 10 million metric tons of cold storage capacity, mostly for potatoes.
China leads globally with 120 million cubic meters cold storage capacity.
Dairy products account for 12% of U.S. chilled storage space.
Midwest U.S. region specializes in 30% of meat and poultry cold storage.
Florida's cold storage boom tied to seafood, 18% national share.
Bakery products hold 10% of chilled capacity globally.
Pharma cold chain requires -80°C capacity growing 22% annually.
Inland Empire, CA, has 25 million sq ft cold space for imports.
Poultry sector uses 28% of total U.S. frozen space.
Brazil cold storage capacity at 1.5 million tons for beef exports.
Beverages occupy 8% of global refrigerated warehouse space.
Chicago market vacancy at 5.8%, protein dominant.
Flowers and perishables 15% in Netherlands cold storage.

Regional and Sectoral Distribution Interpretation

From poultry-packed Southern freezers to produce-chilled California hubs and China's colossal cold-storage dominance, the global market's appetite is quite literally frozen in time, with space increasingly carved up for everything from pharmaceuticals to potatoes as e-commerce and exports drive a frosty real estate boom.

Technology and Equipment

45% of cold storage facilities use automation to reduce labor needs by 20-30%.
IoT sensors in cold storage warehouses monitor temperature in 85% of facilities over 100,000 sq ft.
Average age of refrigeration equipment in U.S. cold storage is 12 years, with 25% over 20 years old.
Energy consumption per sq ft in cold storage is 50 kWh/month, 3x higher than dry warehouses.
Robotic palletizers adopted by 35% of large cold storage operators, improving throughput by 40%.
Blockchain for temperature tracking used in 12% of global cold chains.
CO2 refrigeration systems installed in 22% of new U.S. cold storage builds in 2023.
AI predictive maintenance reduces downtime by 28% in equipped facilities.
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) penetration in cold storage is 78%.
Solar panels power 8% of U.S. cold storage facilities partially.
RFID tracking systems in 62% of U.S. cold storage.
Ammonia refrigeration systems used in 48% of facilities over 200k sq ft.
LED lighting retrofits save 60% energy in 75% of warehouses.
AS/RS systems boost density by 50% in automated facilities.
Drone inventory checks piloted in 5% of large sites.
Variable speed drives on compressors cut energy 25%.
Digital twins used for 18% of new builds optimization.
5G connectivity enables real-time monitoring in 30% facilities.
EV charging stations at 12% of cold storage sites.

Technology and Equipment Interpretation

The industry is a fascinating mix of stubborn legacy, where twenty-year-old chillers groan beside nimble robots and clever AI, all racing to keep our ice cream frozen and our energy bills from spiraling into a climate disaster.

Sources & References

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