Core Insights - The cold chain logistics industry in China is experiencing steady growth, with a total demand for food cold chain logistics projected to reach 192 million tons in the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.35% [1] - The total revenue of food cold chain logistics service companies reached 279.94 billion yuan in the first half of the year, marking a year-on-year growth of 3.84% [4] - Investment in cold storage projects amounted to 22.306 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 7.67% [4] - The total capacity of cold storage facilities reached 26 million cubic meters by the end of June, showing a year-on-year growth of 6.12% [4] Industry Trends - The demand for cold chain delivery is robust, driven by the rapid development of fresh e-commerce and chain restaurants, leading to a significant increase in the sales of light refrigerated vehicles [4] - Sales of refrigerated vehicles reached 29,474 units in the first half of 2025, with a year-on-year increase of 18.19%. Among these, sales of new energy refrigerated vehicles surged to 10,548 units, up 119.61% year-on-year, achieving a penetration rate of 35.8%, an increase of 16.5 percentage points [7] Technological and Regulatory Developments - The high penetration rate of new energy refrigerated vehicles is supported by government subsidies and relaxed road access regulations, with average costs being 5% to 10% lower than traditional fuel vehicles [7] - Cold chain logistics is critical for maintaining the quality of perishable goods, as demonstrated by laboratory tests showing a significant difference in bacterial growth between refrigerated and non-refrigerated conditions [10][12] - Currently, China's food cold chain circulation rate stands at 55%, compared to 95% in developed countries, indicating a need for improvements in temperature control during transportation to ensure food safety [15] Challenges and Recommendations - Cold chain logistics has irreversible characteristics; any disruption in the cold chain can lead to exponential growth of bacteria and microorganisms, emphasizing the need for full-chain traceability and digital upgrades [16] - Experts recommend enhancing the cold chain's temperature control capabilities to ensure food safety from production to consumption [15]