Argentina Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2029

The report titled “Argentina Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2029 – By Market Structure (Cold Storage vs. Cold Transport), By End User (FMCG, Pharmaceuticals, Foodservice, Agriculture, and Others), By Temperature Type (Chilled vs. Frozen), By Region, and By Ownership (3PL vs. Owned)” provides a comprehensive analysis of the cold chain industry in Argentina. The report covers an overview and genesis of the industry, overall market size in terms of revenue, market segmentation, trends and developments, regulatory landscape, customer level profiling, issues and challenges, and comparative landscape including competition scenario, cross comparison, opportunities and bottlenecks, and company profiling of major players in the Cold Chain Market. The report concludes with future market projections based on sales revenue, market structure, end-user sectors, region-wise analysis, cause and effect relationship, and success case studies highlighting the major opportunities and risks in the sector.

Argentina Cold Chain Market Overview and Size

The Argentina cold chain market was valued at approximately ARS 102.9 billion in 2023, fueled by increasing demand for temperature-controlled logistics across pharmaceuticals, dairy, meat exports, and frozen food segments. Growth has also been supported by urban population expansion, modernization of retail and foodservice channels, and rising exports of perishable goods. Key players in the Argentina cold chain landscape include Andreani Logística, Ocasa, Frío Star, and Logística La Serenísima. These companies are recognized for their warehousing infrastructure, cold fleet strength, and technology adoption.

In 2023, Andreani Logística expanded its pharmaceutical cold chain capabilities through new GDP-compliant facilities in Buenos Aires. Similarly, Ocasa enhanced its medical logistics division by integrating GPS-tracked refrigerated transport for high-value medical products. Major regions such as Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santa Fe are core markets due to high demand from healthcare, foodservice, and agro-export hubs.

Market Size for Argentina Cold Chain Industry on the Basis of Revenue (ARS Billion), 2018–2023
Source: TraceData Research Analysis

What Factors are Leading to the Growth of Argentina Cold Chain Market

• Food and Agri-Export Demand: Argentina’s position as a major exporter of beef, poultry, and fruits like blueberries and citrus drives cold chain demand. In 2023, meat exports accounted for 31% of the total cold chain volume handled, requiring frozen storage and international compliance on hygiene and temperature standards.

• Pharmaceutical Growth and Regulation: Increasing vaccine storage and distribution needs, especially post-COVID, have elevated demand for GDP-compliant logistics. Government health programs and rising private hospital chains are fueling the sector, particularly in urban centers.

• Retail and FMCG Transformation: The growth of modern retail, including supermarkets and hypermarkets, has increased demand for chilled storage and intra-city transport. Products such as frozen snacks, dairy, and ice cream now contribute over 24% of the cold chain volume.

Which Industry Challenges Have Impacted the Growth for Argentina Cold Chain Market

• Infrastructure Gaps and Power Reliability: Many regions in Argentina still lack modern cold storage infrastructure, especially in rural agricultural zones. A 2023 study by the National Agricultural Logistics Institute found that 42% of agri-exporters cited insufficient cold storage capacity near farms as a key bottleneck. Inconsistent electricity supply, particularly in the northern provinces, causes frequent temperature deviations, leading to product spoilage and financial losses.

• High Operating and Maintenance Costs: Cold chain operations involve high energy and equipment maintenance costs. Refrigerated transport fuel expenses rose by over 18% in 2023 due to inflation and currency depreciation. These rising operational costs squeeze margins for logistics providers, particularly SMEs, and limit expansion into underserved markets.

• Workforce Skill Gaps: The sector faces a shortage of trained professionals in cold chain logistics. According to the Argentine Logistics Observatory, over 35% of firms reported challenges in hiring technicians skilled in temperature monitoring systems and GDP compliance. This gap limits the efficiency and reliability of cold chain services across critical sectors like pharma and foodservice.

What are the Regulations and Initiatives which have Governed the Market

• Cold Chain Compliance for Pharmaceuticals: The National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices (ANMAT) enforces strict GDP (Good Distribution Practice) regulations for pharmaceuticals. All entities involved in the distribution of temperature-sensitive drugs must maintain documented cold chain integrity. In 2023, over 78% of pharmaceutical cold chain providers passed regulatory audits on the first attempt, reflecting growing compliance.

• Export Certification Standards for Perishables: Argentina mandates HACCP and sanitary certifications for meat, dairy, and produce exports. SENASA (National Service for Agri-Food Health and Quality) oversees inspections and certification of cold storage units for export use. These requirements help maintain competitiveness in global markets like the EU and China but increase the compliance burden on smaller exporters.

• Government Investment in Logistics Infrastructure: Through initiatives like the Federal Logistics Plan, the government has allocated ARS 20 billion between 2022 and 2025 to upgrade multimodal transport and build cold storage facilities near agro-industrial clusters. This investment is expected to reduce spoilage losses by up to 15% over the next five years.

Argentina Cold Chain Market Segmentation

• By Market Structure: The cold chain market in Argentina is primarily driven by third-party logistics (3PL) providers who serve as vital partners for FMCG, pharma, and agriculture companies seeking scalable and cost-effective cold logistics solutions. These providers benefit from economies of scale and nationwide reach. In contrast, owned or captive cold chains are more common among large dairy and meat processing firms, which maintain end-to-end temperature control for product quality assurance and regulatory compliance.

• By End User Industry: The food and beverage sector holds the largest share in the Argentina cold chain market, supported by the country's significant exports of frozen beef, poultry, and dairy products. Pharmaceutical companies contribute the second-largest segment, especially driven by vaccine and temperature-sensitive medicine logistics. The agriculture sector—including fruits, vegetables, and seeds—also relies heavily on cold storage and refrigerated transport, particularly for exports and domestic retail chains.

• By Temperature Type: Frozen logistics accounts for the majority share due to the high volume of frozen meat, poultry, and seafood exports. Frozen temperature ranges (-18°C and below) are critical for preserving meat quality for international shipping. Chilled storage and transport (0°C to 10°C) are extensively used for dairy, fresh produce, and beverages for domestic consumption.

Competitive Landscape in Argentina Cold Chain Market

The Argentina cold chain market is moderately fragmented, with a mix of domestic logistics providers and specialized 3PL firms playing dominant roles. The market is witnessing increased investment in infrastructure, fleet modernization, and tech-driven cold chain monitoring solutions. Companies like Andreani Logística, Ocasa, Frío Star, Logística La Serenísima, and Transporte Pedrito lead the market, while international players are exploring partnerships with local firms for regional expansion.

Some of the recent competitor trends and key information about competitors include:

• Andreani Logística: A dominant player in pharmaceutical cold chain logistics, Andreani expanded its GDP-compliant storage facilities in 2023, boosting cold storage capacity by 22%. The company has also introduced smart temperature tracking systems to enhance regulatory compliance and minimize spoilage risks.

• Ocasa: Focused on healthcare and e-commerce cold logistics, Ocasa reported a 30% year-on-year growth in pharma distribution in 2023. Its investment in real-time tracking and expansion into Chile and Uruguay have strengthened its regional presence.

• Frío Star: A key provider of frozen logistics for meat and dairy exports, Frío Star expanded its refrigerated truck fleet by 18% in 2023. The company operates across the Córdoba agri-belt, serving major exporters with flexible and tech-enabled transport solutions.

• Logística La Serenísima: A vertically integrated cold logistics firm for dairy and frozen foods, La Serenísima upgraded its intercity distribution routes and warehouse automation in 2023. The firm delivered over 250,000 temperature-controlled shipments last year.

• Transporte Pedrito: Specialized in chilled produce and horticulture transport, the firm expanded its footprint across western Argentina and the Andean corridor. In 2023, it partnered with local co-operatives to digitize produce tracking and reduce post-harvest losses by 12%.

What Lies Ahead for Argentina Cold Chain Market?

The Argentina cold chain market is projected to grow steadily through 2029, supported by rising export volumes, increasing pharmaceutical logistics needs, and sustained investment in cold infrastructure and digitalization. The market is expected to witness a moderate to strong CAGR during the forecast period as cold chain services become essential across sectors.

• Expansion of Export-Oriented Cold Storage: With Argentina aiming to increase exports of beef, poultry, citrus, and blueberries, the demand for modern export-compliant cold storage facilities is expected to rise. Government-backed infrastructure projects and trade agreements with China, the EU, and the Middle East will further accelerate growth in frozen and chilled logistics solutions.

• Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Enhancement: The continued growth of Argentina’s healthcare sector—particularly vaccine production, diagnostics, and biologics—is expected to drive the expansion of GDP-certified cold storage and transport. Increasing collaboration between pharma firms and specialized 3PL providers will ensure last-mile cold chain integrity.

• Technology Integration and Automation: Advanced cold chain monitoring systems using IoT, temperature sensors, and blockchain are expected to become more mainstream. These tools will enable real-time condition tracking, predictive maintenance, and inventory optimization, significantly reducing spoilage rates and improving transparency.

• Development of Regional Cold Hubs: New regional cold logistics hubs are expected to emerge in agro-cluster areas like Tucumán (fruit), Mendoza (horticulture), and Patagonia (seafood). These hubs will be critical in improving first-mile cold chain connectivity and reducing post-harvest losses, particularly for export-quality goods.

Argentina Cold Chain Market Segmentation

• By Market Structure:
o Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Providers
o Owned / Captive Cold Chains
o Organized Sector
o Unorganized Sector
o Cold Storage Facilities
o Cold Transport Fleet (Refrigerated Trucks, Vans)

• By End User Industry:
o Food & Beverage (Dairy, Meat, Seafood, Frozen Foods)
o Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
o Fruits & Vegetables (Agriculture)
o Foodservice & Horeca (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering)
o Chemicals & Industrial Goods
o E-commerce & Retail

• By Temperature Type:
o Frozen (≤ -18°C)
o Chilled (0°C to 10°C)

• By Ownership:
o Asset-Light (Outsourced)
o Asset-Heavy (Owned Infrastructure)

• By Region:
o Buenos Aires
o Córdoba
o Santa Fe
o Mendoza
o Patagonia
o Northwest (e.g., Tucumán, Salta)

Players Mentioned in the Report:

• Andreani Logística
• Ocasa
• Frío Star
• Logística La Serenísima
• Transporte Pedrito
• Food Partners Logistics
• Tecnotrans
• DHL Supply Chain (Argentina Unit)

Key Target Audience:

• Cold Storage Operators
• Cold Transport Companies
• Agro-Exporters and Food Processing Firms
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Distributors
• Retail Chains and E-commerce Platforms
• Logistics and Supply Chain Investors
• Government and Regulatory Agencies (e.g., SENASA, ANMAT)
• Infrastructure Development Agencies
• Industry Associations and Think Tanks

Time Period:

• Historical Period: 2018–2023
• Base Year: 2024
• Forecast Period: 2024–2029