Market Trends of Colombia Cold Chain Logistics Industry
Colombia's Cold Chain: A Key Player in the Transportation Sector
Colombia's cold chain logistics market is witnessing robust growth, fueled by a surge in demand for perishable goods and advancements in its infrastructure.
While Colombia boasts ample arable land dedicated to fruit cultivation, its cold storage infrastructure, especially in rural production areas, lags. Although the flower export industry has spurred some progress in cold chain logistics, other agricultural products still grapple with insufficient cold storage solutions.
Refrigerated warehouses play a pivotal role in upholding the stringent controls of Colombia's cold chain industry. The country is increasingly adopting temperature-controlled storage, driven by a rising food demand from its expanding population. Moreover, Colombia stands out as a key exporter of perishables, processed foods, and fresh produce, including vegetables and flowers, in South America. For Instance, In June 2024, In a move that underlines its commitment to Colombia, A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) unveiled a 44,000 m2 container logistics center in Tocancipa. This initiative is part of Maersk's broader strategy to enhance its logistics offerings in Colombia. The center, situated in the Tocancipa industrial zone, is designed to cater to customers' growing demands for agile and flexible supply chain solutions. Strategically positioned 47 kilometers north of Bogotá, the center's location is pivotal.
Boasting a 3,378 m2 depot, a 23,000 m2 container storage area, and a 651 m2 refrigerated container storage section with connectivity for 50 containers, the logistics center is well-equipped. With a handling capacity of up to 1,600 containers, it features a sophisticated depot management system. Services range from container loading and unloading to cargo handling at the on-site depot. Additionally, the center offers storage for full containers and will have reach stackers readily available.
Colombia Emerges as Top Destination for US Agricultural Exports in South America
According to the US Department of Commerce, as of November 2023, Colombia has become the largest destination for US agricultural exports in South America. Colombia continues to import a wide range of farm products. The country may rely on something other than its domestic sources of raw materials or ingredients to meet the growing demand for processed foods and beverages.
Traditional retail outlets are Colombia's most common form of shopping, even though formal retailers account for 60% of food distribution. Responding to consumer trends has benefited hard discounters offering good quality products at reasonable prices. Thanks to Colombians' rapid adoption of digital technologies, e-commerce is also a significant activity in this area.
The Colombian food and beverage industry denotes 28% of the country´s total manufacturing production by value. In addition, many food ingredients are imported into Colombia by the net. Demand for higher quality and healthier confectionery products is growing in the country. These factors create the need for cold chain storage and logistics.
