China's cold-chain logistics sector saw steady expansion in 2024, driven by the continuous release of consumer demand, industrial data showed Monday.
China's total demand for cold-chain logistics reached over 365 million tons in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 4.3 percent, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).
The annual total revenue of cold chain logistics in 2024 logged 536.1 billion yuan (about 73.19 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 3.7 percent, according to the CFLP.
The sector was in a volatile development trend of moving forward under pressure, and was gradually stabilizing and recovering, according to a CFLP official.
"The diverse demands of consumers for fresh products and their need for immediate consumption have driven the development of the fresh cold-chain sector. Additionally, as consumers place greater emphasis on food safety, large-scale catering delivery has also seen significant growth," said Qin Yuming, secretary-general of the Cold Chain Logistics Committee of the CFLP.
Since the third quarter of 2024, driven by the catering industry and fresh food e-commerce, the overall growth rate of cold-chain logistics has rebounded. In 2024, the annual catering revenue was over 5.57 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.3 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
In addition, the sector also showcased a clear green transformation trend. In 2024, the sales volume of new energy refrigerated trucks reached 21,368 units, a year-on-year increase of 350.8 percent; and the penetration rate of new energy refrigerated trucks was 33.9 percent, an increase of 25.2 percentage points year on year.
China's cold-chain logistics sector sees steady growth in 2024
Traditional manufacturers are securing growing global orders at the ongoing Canton Fair through technological innovation, green transformation, and smart upgrades, showcasing the fresh vitality of China's manufacturing sector.
Held in Guangzhou, southern China, the 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) runs from April 15 to May 5 in three five-day phases.
The first phase, running from April 15 to 19, is themed "advanced manufacturing." It features 19 exhibition areas in five major sections, including electronics and home appliances, and industrial manufacturing.
Over 12,000 enterprises are showcasing their products characterized by high-end intelligence, green and low-carbon technologies.
At the fair, a high-end smart home appliance maker from Foshan, Guangdong Province is presenting its latest products equipped with new technologies, drawing significant interest and inquiries from buyers.
"We are integrating both intelligent and green development. AI-powered technology helps improve the energy efficiency of our air conditioners. We also hope to leverage the Canton Fair as a platform to showcase our products," said exhibitor Yu Fangwen.
A buyer from Uzbekistan showed strong interest in the company's energy-efficient smart air conditioner that monitors carbon dioxide levels in real time, and placed an order for 85,000 units.
"We are the largest home appliance company in Uzbekistan. We came here to source products for the upcoming peak sales season, especially air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. We think highly of the Canton Fair because we come here twice every year and always find many new products," the buyer said.
In the engineering machinery section, new-energy forklifts have become a key highlight, with lithium-powered counterbalance forklifts and electric warehouse forklifts accounting for the majority of exhibits.
Compared with conventional fuel-powered forklifts, new energy models feature lower energy consumption, zero emissions and lower noise, while also offering fast charging, long battery life, and safe, stable performance, fully aligning with the global trend toward intelligent, green, and low-carbon industrial development.
"We use China's highly mature and advanced technologies in lithium batteries, electric motors and electronic control systems for new energy equipment. This is our third consecutive year attending the Canton Fair, and we believe this platform helps connect us with the world and the future," said exhibitor Hu Zhu.
Green, smart upgrades boost orders for traditional manufacturers at Canton Fair
