Refrigerated Transportation and Cold-chain Logistics in India – Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Reefer transportation has become an integral part of supply chain management for the shipment of temperature-sensitive goods. In a country as large and geographically diverse as India, refrigerated road transport is crucial for the safe circulation of fresh and frozen perishables. The need for reliable and efficient cooling technology for urban deliveries increases rapidly. In India, reefer transportation is mainly used to ship milk and dairy products. In addition to refrigeration transport, cold storage facilities are essential for storing perishable products, such as dairy and meat products, fruits and vegetables, medicines, and pharmaceutical products. Currently, Indian cold storage industries are at their nascent stage. A great deal of potential is available for the cold storage infrastructure in India, as a significant increase in the food market is expected in the next five years. This article discusses statistics on refrigeration transport, its various types, and their share in the Indian refrigeration transport market. Furthermore, available cold chain storage facilities, based on number and capacities in major states of India, are discussed. The benefits of cold storage, challenges in the installation of cold storage, and strategies to overcome them are presented in this paper. Keywords: Refrigerated Transport, Cold storage, Cold Chain Logistics, Perishable Products

Refrigerated Transportation and Cold-chain Logistics in India – Current Status and Future Prospects