Get Acrobat

Industry Information

Public Refrigerated Capacity by Country

In 2006, IARW collected data from 25 countries. In those places, capacity increased in 17 places while it remained flat in six nations. Data in other areas was insufficient to draw any conclusions.  Areas showing the greatest increases were France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Brazil. Total global capacity in 2008 for those countries where data was collected for the last report is 6,350.32 million cubic feet (179.82 million cubic meters), which represents a 15 percent increase from 2006. This growth suggests a worldwide trend towards increasing capacity driven by a greater reliance on the cold chain to meet growing trade and consumption rates of perishable products. Overall global capacity in 2008, including the 25 original countries surveyed, is approximately 247.77 million cubic meters (8,749.97 million cubic feet).

This report marks the first time that IARW has been able to collect accurate data for the cold storage industries in China and India since 1998. In both countries, there has been significant increase in capacity since then. China shows a 20 percent increase and India’s capacity has more than doubled since 1998.

Country 2004 2006 2008
Million Cubic
Meters		 Million Cubic
Feet		 Million Cubic
Meters		 Million Cubic
Feet		 Million Cubic
Meters		 Million Cubic
Feet
Argentina * * * * 0.50 17.66
Australia 5.30 187.05 6.00 211.89 6.00 211.89
Austria 0.65 22.95 0.80 28.25 0.80 28.25
Bangladesh * * * * 7.76 274.04
Belgium 1.60 56.50 1.60 56.50 2.00 70.63
Brazil 2.20 77.69 2.70 95.35 4.50 158.92
Canada 6.34 223.89 6.79 239.79 6.89 243.32
Chile * * * * 0.17 6.00
China * * * * 15.00 529.72
Colombia * * * * 0.12 4.24
Costa Rica * * * * 0.09 3.18
Denmark 1.80 63.57 1.80 63.57 1.90 67.10
Eastern Europe 1.00 35.31 1.00 35.31 1.00 35.31
Finland 0.40 14.13 1.80 63.57 1.80 63.57
France 5.40 190.70 5.40 190.70 8.50 300.17
Germany 6.50 229.55 8.70 307.24 13.40 473.22
Great Britain 4.40 155.38 4.40 155.38 5.60 197.76
Greece 0.90 31.78 0.90 31.78 0.90 31.78
Guatemala * * * * 0.07 2.50
India * * * * 18.58 656.15
Ireland 1.30 45.91 1.30 45.91 1.70 60.03
Italy 3.00 105.94 3.00 105.94 3.50 123.60
Japan 27.46 969.74 27.69 977.86 27.69 977.86
Malaysia * * * * 0.01 0.46
Mauritius * * * * 0.03 1.06
Mexico * * * * 1.35 47.67
Middle East * * * * 0.40 14.10
Namibia * * * * 0.04 1.41
Netherlands 1.20 42.38 9.00 317.83 12.60 444.96
Norway 1.50 52.97 1.50 52.97 1.50 52.97
Peru * * * * 0.08 2.83
Poland 0.30 10.59 0.30 10.59 0.30 10.59
Portugal 0.60 21.19 0.60 21.19 0.80 28.25
Russia * * * * 16.00 565.03
Spain 2.50 88.29 2.90 102.41 8.20 289.58
Sweden 0.90 31.78 0.90 31.78 0.90 31.78
Switzerland 0.50 17.66 0.50