South Africa Refrigerated Transport Market

South Africa Refrigerated Transport Market Overview:

The South Africa refrigerated transport market size reached USD 137.20 Million in 2024. The market is expected to reach USD 184.56 Million by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.01% from 2025-2033. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for temperature-sensitive goods in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as the expansion of e-commerce and the need for efficient cold chain logistics, contributing to the South Africa refrigerated transport market share.

South Africa Refrigerated Transport Market Trends:

Growth in E-commerce and Online Food Delivery

South Africa refrigerated transport market growth is largely driven by the explosive growth of e-commerce and the increasing popularity of online food delivery services. Modern consumers are more receptive to digital convenience and anticipate receiving temperature-sensitive goods, ready-to-eat meals, and fresh groceries delivered right to their homes. Reliable cold chain logistics, particularly refrigerated vehicles that can guarantee food safety and product quality from warehouse to doorstep, are in high demand as a result of this trend. From 2025 to 2030, the South African market for online meal delivery services is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8%, indicating robust and steady growth. The growing demand for effective refrigerated transportation solutions is directly related to this. Temperature-controlled logistics will become more and more necessary as more food retailers, e-commerce sites, and delivery services expand their operations. This will change cold chain infrastructure and strengthen refrigerated transport as the foundation of South Africa's expanding digital economy.

Expansion of the Pharmaceutical Industry

The South African pharmaceutical sector is emerging as a major driver of growth for the refrigerated transport market, fueled by rising demand for temperature-sensitive healthcare products. In 2024, the country’s pharmaceutical logistics market was valued at USD 537.9 Million and is projected to reach nearly USD 1 Billion by 2033, growing at a healthy CAGR of 7.1% between 2025 and 2033. The production and distribution of sensitive drugs, vaccines, biologics, and other health-related products—all of which need strict temperature controls during storage and transportation—has increased, supporting this growth. The medical supply chain is now more dependable and scalable thanks to investments made by the public and private sectors in pharmaceutical infrastructure, such as refrigerated fleets and cold storage facilities. Furthermore, maintaining uninterrupted cold chains has become even more crucial as a result of public health campaigns and pandemic preparedness efforts. The need for refrigerated transportation will continue to grow as pharmaceutical manufacturing spreads both locally and regionally, guaranteeing the safe and legal delivery of necessary medical supplies.

South Africa Refrigerated Transport Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on mode of transportation, technology, temperature, and application.

Mode of Transportation Insights:

• Refrigerated Road Transport
• Refrigerated Sea Transport
• Refrigerated Rail Transport
• Refrigerated Air Transport

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the mode of transportation. This includes refrigerated road transport, refrigerated sea transport, refrigerated rail transport, and refrigerated air transport.

Technology Insights:

• Vapor Compression Systems
• Air-Blown Evaporators
• Eutectic Devices
• Cryogenic Systems

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on technology have also been provided in the report. This includes vapor compression systems, air-blown evaporators, eutectic devices, and cryogenic systems.

Temperature Insights:

• Single-Temperature
• Multi-Temperature

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the temperature. This includes single-temperature and multi-temperature.

Application Insights:

• Chilled Food Products
  • Dairy Products
  • Bakery and Confectionery Products
  • Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
  • Others
• Frozen Food Products
  • Frozen Dairy Products
  • Processed Meat Products
  • Fish and Seafood Products
  • Others
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application have also been provided in the report. This includes chilled food products (dairy products, bakery and confectionery products, fresh fruits and vegetables, and others), frozen food products (frozen dairy products, processed meat products, fish and seafood products, and others), and others.

Regional Insights:

• Gauteng
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Western Cape
• Mpumalanga
• Eastern Cape
• Others

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and others. 

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

South Africa Refrigerated Transport Market News:

• April 2025: Woolworths and DP World launched South Africa’s first 100% electric, zero-emissions refrigerated trailer using Thermo King’s AxlePower system. The trailer, operating between Johannesburg and Cape Town, captures energy from rolling wheels to power refrigeration, reducing diesel use by 97% and saving 20 tons of CO₂ annually. Developed with BPW, this system meets extreme temperature demands without grid connection. The project aligns with Woolworths’ Vision 2025+ sustainability goals and showcases scalable innovation for cleaner, quieter transport in urban and long-haul logistics.
• February 2024: Sumitomo Corporation and OOCL launched a new refrigerated ocean transport service using electric field technology, enabling long-distance shipment of chilled food while preserving freshness. This innovation reduces greenhouse gas emissions, extends shelf life, and lowers costs by shifting from air to sea freight. The service aims to expand global fresh food supply chains and support sustainable logistics.

South Africa Refrigerated Transport Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the South Africa refrigerated transport market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa refrigerated transport market on the basis of mode of transportation?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa refrigerated transport market on the basis of technology?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa refrigerated transport market on the basis of temperature?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa refrigerated transport market on the basis of application?
• What is the breakup of the South Africa refrigerated transport market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the South Africa refrigerated transport market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the South Africa refrigerated transport market?
• What is the structure of the South Africa refrigerated transport market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the South Africa refrigerated transport market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the South Africa refrigerated transport market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the South Africa refrigerated transport market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the South Africa refrigerated transport industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.