Belgium Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2029

The report titled “Belgium Cold Chain Market Outlook to 2029 – By Market Structure (Organized vs. Unorganized), By Type of Storage (Refrigerated Warehouse, Cold Rooms, Deep Freezers), By Temperature Type (Chilled, Frozen), By End Users (F&B, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Others), and By Region” provides a comprehensive analysis of the cold chain industry in Belgium. The report covers an overview and genesis of the industry, overall market size in terms of revenue, market segmentation; key 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 Belgium Cold Chain Market. The report concludes with future market projections based on market revenue, by segment, temperature type, end-user industry, region, and a cause-and-effect relationship, along with success case studies highlighting major opportunities and market challenges.

Belgium Cold Chain Market Overview and Size

The Belgium cold chain market reached a valuation of EUR 2.75 billion in 2023, driven by rising pharmaceutical exports, stringent EU food safety norms, and increasing demand for frozen and chilled food products. The market is characterized by key players such as Kuehne + Nagel, Lineage Logistics, Frigologix, and Remitrans. These companies are known for their technologically advanced storage facilities, strong logistics networks, and temperature-controlled transportation capabilities.

In 2023, Lineage Logistics expanded its refrigerated storage capacity in Belgium by launching a new automated warehouse in the Port of Antwerp. This initiative is aimed at improving efficiency and meeting the growing demand from food producers and pharmaceutical companies for reliable cold storage services. Flanders and Wallonia are key hubs due to their strategic location and proximity to logistics corridors and European trade routes.

Market Size for Belgium Cold Chain Industry on the Basis of Revenue, 2018–2023 (in EUR Billion)

(Graph Placeholder – TraceData Research Analysis)

What Factors are Leading to the Growth of the Belgium Cold Chain Market:

• Surge in Pharmaceutical Trade: Belgium is home to several leading pharmaceutical manufacturers and exporters. The demand for temperature-controlled storage and logistics has increased with the rise in vaccine production and biologics, particularly post-COVID. In 2023, over 60% of biologics exported required strict cold chain compliance, pushing the sector to invest in advanced temperature monitoring and GDP-compliant infrastructure.

• Evolving Consumer Preferences: Belgian consumers are increasingly opting for frozen and ready-to-eat meals, with chilled and frozen food sales increasing by 8.5% year-on-year in 2023. This shift is supported by changing lifestyles, higher disposable incomes, and greater urbanization, necessitating better cold storage and last-mile refrigerated delivery solutions.

• Stringent Regulatory Framework: The EU’s rigorous food safety and pharmaceutical storage guidelines have led companies to upgrade their infrastructure. In 2023, over 75% of Belgium’s cold storage facilities were compliant with EU Regulation 852/2004 and WHO GDP standards, fostering a more organized and high-quality market structure.

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

• High Operating Costs: One of the major barriers in the cold chain sector is the high cost of energy and refrigeration infrastructure. As per industry estimates, energy expenses account for nearly 30–35% of total cold storage operational costs in Belgium. This significantly impacts the profitability of small- and medium-sized players, discouraging new entrants and expansion in tier-2 cities.

• Infrastructure Bottlenecks in Rural Areas: While urban regions like Antwerp and Brussels are well-equipped, rural and semi-urban areas face limited access to cold chain infrastructure. In 2023, over 40% of perishable agri-produce from rural Flanders was reported to suffer quality degradation due to inadequate or delayed cold transportation, creating a significant logistical challenge in bridging the urban-rural cold chain gap.

• Workforce and Skill Gaps: Operating modern cold storage systems requires technical expertise in handling temperature-sensitive goods, monitoring systems, and compliance documentation. A 2023 labor market assessment showed that nearly 28% of cold chain operators in Belgium faced difficulties in hiring skilled personnel, particularly for pharmaceutical-grade handling and advanced inventory control systems.

What are the Regulations and Initiatives which have Governed the Market

• EU Good Distribution Practice (GDP) Compliance: The European Union mandates strict adherence to Good Distribution Practice guidelines for pharmaceutical products. In Belgium, all pharmaceutical logistics operators are required to maintain GDP certification. As of 2023, over 85% of pharma-linked cold chain providers were GDP-compliant, with real-time temperature logs, calibrated sensors, and audit-ready digital systems.

• FAVV Food Safety Regulations: The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) in Belgium enforces rigorous standards for food storage and transport. Cold storage units must maintain traceable temperature logs and hygiene certifications. In 2023, non-compliance led to the temporary suspension of operations in 6% of audited facilities, indicating strict regulatory oversight.

• Carbon Emission Reduction and Sustainability Mandates: In line with EU climate goals, Belgium has introduced incentives for using energy-efficient refrigeration systems and low-GWP refrigerants. The government provides subsidies for solar-integrated cold storage and vehicle retrofitting with electric cooling units. In 2023, approximately 12% of new cold transport vehicles registered in Belgium were hybrid or electric-powered.

Belgium Cold Chain Market Segmentation

• By Market Structure: The organized sector dominates the cold chain market in Belgium, primarily due to its adherence to stringent EU regulations, technological advancement, and ability to serve pharmaceutical and high-value food clients. Large-scale operators such as Kuehne + Nagel, Lineage Logistics, and Frigologix offer end-to-end temperature-controlled logistics and storage, ensuring compliance with EU GDP and FAVV standards. The unorganized segment, comprising small regional players, continues to serve local food producers and retailers but lacks the infrastructure and quality assurance to compete for high-margin pharmaceutical and export clients.

• By Temperature Type: The frozen segment commands a larger share of the market due to the high demand from frozen food producers, meat exporters, and vaccine logistics. This segment is essential for preserving products below –18°C, particularly in sectors like seafood, meat, and certain biologics. Chilled storage, maintaining a temperature range between 0°C to 8°C, is widely used for dairy, fresh produce, and beverages. Demand for chilled logistics has been rising steadily with the growing retail and convenience food sectors.

• By End-User Industry: The food & beverage sector is the largest end-user of cold chain services in Belgium, accounting for a substantial portion of cold storage and transportation demand. This is followed by the pharmaceutical industry, which has seen rapid growth in demand for compliant and highly reliable cold chain solutions due to the rise of biologics, vaccines, and specialty drugs. The chemical and other industrial sectors utilize cold chain logistics for sensitive formulations requiring specific storage conditions.

Competitive Landscape in Belgium Cold Chain Market

The Belgium cold chain market is moderately concentrated, with a mix of global logistics players and specialized regional cold storage operators. The increasing demand from the pharmaceutical and food & beverage sectors has encouraged both infrastructure expansion and technology integration. Companies like Kuehne + Nagel, Lineage Logistics, Frigologix, Remitrans, and Stockhabo dominate the market, with newer entrants leveraging automation, sustainability, and energy efficiency as competitive differentiators.

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

• Kuehne + Nagel: A leading global logistics company with significant cold chain operations in Belgium, Kuehne + Nagel expanded its pharmaceutical logistics capacity in 2023 by launching a new GDP-certified cold storage hub near Brussels Airport. The facility can manage over 20,000 pallet positions across frozen and chilled zones.

• Lineage Logistics: Lineage has strengthened its presence in Belgium with a fully automated cold storage warehouse in the Port of Antwerp, operational since 2023. The facility integrates AI-based inventory controls and energy-efficient ammonia refrigeration systems, aimed at serving both food and pharmaceutical clients.

• Frigologix: A key player in food-grade cold storage and distribution, Frigologix operates specialized facilities for meat, dairy, and fresh produce. In 2023, the company launched a new BREEAM-certified warehouse with advanced humidity and temperature control systems in Limburg province.

• Remitrans: Focused on refrigerated transport, Remitrans manages a fleet of over 250 temperature-controlled trucks and specializes in cross-border food logistics. In 2023, the company reported a 12% increase in its pharmaceutical shipments, owing to upgrades in real-time tracking and GDP compliance.

• Stockhabo: Known for custom-built cold warehouses, Stockhabo expanded its footprint in Wallonia in 2023 with a new energy-neutral cold storage center. The facility serves high-value perishable products, including fine chocolates and dairy exports, and uses solar panels and CO₂-based cooling systems.

What Lies Ahead for Belgium Cold Chain Market?

The Belgium cold chain market is expected to grow steadily through 2029, with a strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR), supported by the expansion of pharmaceutical exports, rise in demand for frozen and chilled foods, and the increasing emphasis on sustainability and compliance with EU regulations.

• Expansion of Pharma Cold Chain Logistics: With Belgium continuing to be a European hub for vaccine production, biologics, and temperature-sensitive drugs, the demand for GDP-compliant storage and distribution networks is expected to surge. By 2029, it is anticipated that over 70% of pharmaceutical logistics in Belgium will require cold chain integration, driven by innovation in biologics and personalized medicines.

• Automation and Smart Warehouse Integration: The adoption of automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), AI-powered temperature monitoring, and IoT sensors will become widespread. These technologies will not only reduce operational costs but also improve accuracy and minimize human error. Belgium is projected to have over 60% of new cold storage capacity powered by automation by 2029.

• Green and Energy-Efficient Infrastructure: Sustainability will become a key competitive differentiator, with increasing investments in solar-powered warehouses, low-GWP refrigerants, and CO₂-based refrigeration systems. Government-backed energy efficiency incentives are expected to accelerate the adoption of these technologies, especially in newly constructed facilities.

• Growth of Online Grocery and Meal Delivery Ecosystem: The rising popularity of e-grocery platforms and ready-to-eat meal delivery services will drive last-mile cold chain demand. Urban centers such as Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent are expected to witness increased deployment of micro cold storage units and electric refrigerated delivery vehicles to support rapid delivery models.

Belgium Cold Chain Market Segmentation

• By Market Structure:
o Organized Sector
o Unorganized Sector

• By Type of Storage Facility:
o Refrigerated Warehouses
o Cold Rooms
o Deep Freezers
o Blast Freezers
o Temperature-Controlled Containers

• By Temperature Type:
o Chilled (0°C to 8°C)
o Frozen (–18°C and below)

• By End-User Industry:
o Food & Beverage
o Pharmaceuticals
o Chemicals
o Floriculture
o Others (e.g., Cosmetics, Biotechnology)

• By Transportation Mode:
o Refrigerated Trucks
o Cold Rail Freight
o Air Freight (Temperature Controlled)
o Sea Freight (Reefer Containers)

• By Region:
o Flanders
o Wallonia
o Brussels Capital Region

Players Mentioned in the Report:

• Kuehne + Nagel
• Lineage Logistics
• Frigologix
• Remitrans
• Stockhabo
• DHL Temperature Management Solutions
• Fiege Logistics
• Colfridis
• H Essers

Key Target Audience:

• Cold Chain Logistics Providers
• Food Processing & Export Companies
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Distributors
• Refrigerated Storage Infrastructure Developers
• Cold Transport Fleet Operators
• Regulatory Bodies (e.g., FAVV, EU GDP Inspectors)
• Investment Firms and Infrastructure Funds
• Technology Providers (IoT, Automation, Energy Management)
• Research and Consulting Firms

Time Period:

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