China's cold-chain logistics sector has sustained steady expansion in the first quarter of the year, driven by policies stimulating spending, industry data showed on Sunday.
The total cold-chain logistics amounted to 2.21 trillion yuan (about 306.6 billion U.S. dollars) during the first quarter of 2025, up 4 percent year-on-year, and the total revenue from cold chain logistics grew by 3.9 percent, reaching 136.13 billion yuan in Q1, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP).
In particular, the fruit and vegetable wholesale market saw a basically even trading volume compared to the same period last year, with vegetable transactions increasing by approximately 5 percent. The retail market experienced growth, with online sales of fruits and vegetables rising by more than 15 percent, while sales of frozen food in the offline market increased by about 10 percent.
"The fresh food e-commerce, direct shipments, and instant retail services enjoy rapid growth, which highlights the crucial role that cold chain logistics plays in supporting the development in these fields," said Qin Yuming, secretary-general of the Cold Chain Logistics Committee of the CFLP.
As the weather gets warm, the demand for fresh agricultural products including fruits, vegetables, dairy, and frozen foods is expected to rise, particularly during the upcoming holiday season. The increase in product sales is expected to further drive growth in cold chain logistics, with continued expansion in both market scale and demand throughout the second quarter.
In the first quarter, the total investment of China's cold chain logistics project reaching 8.74 billion yuan (about 1.21 billion U.S. dollars), increasing about 9.4 percent from a year earlier, according to CFLP release.
Moreover, the cold chain transportation for products like fruits, beef, and fresh seafood has become more active in China as the country’s cross-border logistics channels continue to optimize. Direct flights and new transport modes integrating trains with cold chain logistics are bringing an increasing number of high-quality foreign agricultural products to Chinese consumers' tables.
Notably, many cold chain processing companies focusing on overseas market are shifting the focus to domestic markets and diversifying their strategies to enhance competitiveness while facing the global trade uncertainties, according to a recent survey by the CFLP’s Cold Chain Logistics Committee.
"Many export-oriented enterprises in China are expanding into emerging markets through multi-channel business strategies in regions like Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia. At the same time, we are seeing a growing number of these companies ramp up efforts to develop the domestic market, focusing on offering higher-quality products to meet the demands of consumers in China," said Qin.
China's cold chain logistics market expands steadily in Q1 2025
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
