The growing demand for perishable goods, ranging from dairy products to vaccines and biologics is propelling the growth of the Indian cold chain logistics sector. According to a Mordor Intelligence report, the Indian cold chain transportation market is expected to grow from $12.77 billion in 2025 to $20.31 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 9.72% between the forecast years. This growth trajectory is fueled by evolving consumer preferences, rapid urbanization, and a sharp rise in organized retail and e-commerce for temperature-sensitive goods.
India continues to rank among the top global producers of perishable commodities. It is the largest producer of milk, second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables, and a leading manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals. Recent government initiatives such as the PM Gati Shakti scheme and PLI schemes in multimodal logistics are rapidly transforming the cold chain ecosystem.
Despite its immense potential, India’s cold chain logistics sector witnesses over 30-40% of perishable produce wasted annually due to inadequate temperature control and poor last-mile delivery connectivity. That being said, the need for robust infrastructure and smarter in-plant logistics management has never been more urgent. Let’s examine key challenges confronting cold chain logistics in India and explore strategic solutions to overcome them.
What are the Problems with Cold Chain Logistics in India?
India has its own set of challenges when it comes to cold chain logistics. The major contributing factors are because of the difficult geographical topology, unawareness of technological advancements, and extreme climatic conditions. Let’s explore these challenges in more detail and see how they affect the cold chain landscape.
Lack of Mobile Infrastructure
We need to create important moving units like freezer trucks, freezer containers, reefer vans/trucks, carriers, and merchandising carts. Due to the scarcity of mobile cold chain equipment, the Indian cold logistics sector is unable to satisfy the demand. Though the equipment and vehicles can make the cost of transportation go up, still in the long run it is beneficial for the businesses.
High Operational Costs
According to an AWL India article, in India, about 45% of the money spent on running cold storage goes to fuel costs, making the overall expenses much higher. Indian cold storage companies typically pay around Rs 100 or more per cubic foot each month for their operations. This is twice as much as what it costs in the West, where fuel expenses are only 10% of their total costs. So, high operational costs is another reason holding back the Indian cool chain transportation.
Temperature Monitoring and Traceability Issues
Insufficient emphasis on monitoring reefer parameters in vehicles leads to spoilage and deviations in the cold chain transport, affecting trade. According to MOFPI, in India, perishable food waste contributes to 4.6–15% of total production. Similarly, according to NCCD, there’s currently no motivation to enhance operational controls in cold chain transport. Encouraging cold chain tracking and monitoring systems could address challenges in Indian cold chain logistics.
Equipment Failure
Power outages or electricity fluctuations can disrupt powered cooling systems. Issues like coolant failures and poor cooling circulation can affect cold chain management, increasing maintenance costs. This can result in significant wastage as perishable goods are exposed to heat for an extended period, compromising product quality and profitability.
Unorganized Operations
The cold chain industry in India is largely unorganized, a MOFPI report states that 92% of cold chain facilities in India are owned and operated by the private sector. This industry is highly scattered and absent in many states. Surprisingly, only four states – UP, Gujarat, West Bengal, and Punjab facilitate 60% of the country’s cold storages, highlighting the fragmented nature of the sector.
High Traffic Conditions
Especially in India, the traffic is a major reason behind delayed deliveries. In cold chain transportation delays can potentially result in spoilage of products even if they’re in a temperature-controlled environment. According to Live Mint article, India faces $6.6 billion in losses annually due to transportation delays.
Overcoming Challenges in Indian Cold Chain Logistics
Binary Semantics’ cold chain monitoring system, powered by FleetRobo comes as an effective solution to overcome diverse challenges in the Indian cold chain logistics sector.
Continuous Temperature Tracking
Cold chain monitoring can track up to four reefer chambers at the same time, each with different temperature settings. Cold chain IoT Devices and temperature sensors provide live data on temperature fluctuations along with humidity levels.
Smart Route Optimizations
The smart route optimization aids cold chain logistics providers by going beyond traditional route planning. It not only creates efficient and cost-effective paths but also strategically plans delivery destinations to align with receivers’ preferences and convenience. This feature ensures real-time adjustments based on the route, eliminating delays and loss. Contributing to enhanced customer satisfaction through timely and tailored deliveries.
Supply Chain Management
Cold chain logistics solution by Binary Semantics facilitates the smooth coordination and control of different types of deliveries within a cold transportation supply chain. Businesses can efficiently transport goods between central hubs in the supply chain and optimize dispatch from central hubs to warehouses. Moreover, it also allows coordinated deliveries to various supply chain locations for timely product arrival at each designated point.
Geo-Fenced Security
Binary Semantics’ cold chain solutions allow you to create virtual boundaries with top-tier geo-fencing. So, for cold chain logistics operations, businesses can create designated areas within which a fleet should remain. In case the reefer container violates the boundary, FleetRobo generates instant alerts and notifies the fleet manager.
Analytics Dashboard
With Binary’s smart dashboard, businesses can track the performance of their reefer trucks. This feature helps obtain detailed reports of fuel consumption, traveled distance, mileage, and other minute details. With these analytical reports, businesses can easily cut down extra operational costs in their cold chain logistics processes.
Growing Trends in Indian Cold Chain Logistics
Growing Demand for Fresh Products
The shift towards healthier diets is driving an increased demand for specialty and fresh products. According to APEDA data for FY 2023-24, India exported approximately 3.91 million MT of fresh fruits and vegetables worth US $1.814 billion. This marked a 47.3% volume increase and a 41.5% value rise compared to FY 2019-20. As consumer demand continues to rise, it becomes necessary for cold chain companies in India to uphold the freshness standards of these products.
Surge in Processed Foods Demand: Government Initiatives in Focus
The upward trend in consumer demand for processed foods has prompted the Indian government to establish multiple Mega Food Parks across the country. This strategic move is expected to catalyze the growth of cold supply chain companies in India, facilitating the efficient handling and distribution of processed food items.
Growing Healthcare Sector Demand
The healthcare sector is experiencing a surge in demand for temperature-sensitive products, such as vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and clinical trial materials. With these markets poised for double-digit growth, there is a heightened need for reliable cold chain logistics companies in India to ensure the optimal storage conditions for these critical healthcare products.
Conclusion
Binary’s cold chain solution emerges as a game-changer for overcoming the complex challenges of India’s cold chain logistics. Equipped with features like real-time temperature monitoring, AI-powered route optimization, and geo-fenced security controls, it delivers unmatched efficiency, visibility, and control across every stage of cold transport.
Its intuitive analytics dashboard unlocks actionable insights that help businesses reduce operational costs and minimize wastage. As the demand for fresh produce, processed foods, and temperature-sensitive healthcare products continues to rise, FleetRobo doesn’t just meet today’s requirements – it future-proofs your logistics strategy.
Connect with our experts today and discover how Binary Semantics can help you build smarter, faster, and more reliable cold chain operations in India’s fast-evolving market.
