🧊 Americold expands in North America and Asia-Pacific regions

Welcome back to CubeCold News where we cover the latest developments in the cold chain industry and temperature-controlled logistics.

In today’s edition:

• Americold expands cold storage capacity in Houston and Christchurch

• Porter Logistics expands into cold chain services in Atlanta

• CCT and Tower Cold Chain to launch new product at LogiPharma 2025

• Rising complexity in pharmaceutical logistics requires specialized solutions

• Latest cold chain industry reports

News

Americold expands cold storage capacity in Houston and Christchurch Americold Realty Trust is expanding its global cold storage portfolio with strategic acquisitions in both North America and the Asia-Pacific region.

• In Houston, Texas, Americold is investing $127 million to acquire a 10.7 million cubic foot facility in Cedar Port Industrial Park, adding 35,700 pallet positions to its portfolio.

• CEO George Chappelle noted this acquisition supports a new contract with "one of the world's largest retailers" and strengthens Americold's position in the high-turn retail segment.

• The facility includes 16 acres of adjacent land for future expansion.

• In Christchurch, New Zealand, Americold has broken ground on a $34 million expansion of its Halwyn facility, which will more than double the site's capacity.

• Located 10 minutes from Christchurch airport, the 15,240 sq m facility will support growing demand across New Zealand's South Island, particularly for grocery and retail customers. (Americold / PR Newswire)

Porter Logistics expands into cold chain services in Atlanta Porter Logistics, a leading 3PL warehousing company in Atlanta, has announced its expansion into cold chain logistics, adding 145,000 sq ft of cold storage at its existing Atlanta campus.

• This addition brings Porter's total presence to 750,000 sq ft on Selig Drive in Atlanta's Fulton Industrial corridor.

• The new cold storage facilities can accommodate various temperature requirements, from refrigerated storage (35-40°F / 1-5°C) to freezer storage as low as -20°F / -30°C.

• CEO Robert Crump describes this expansion as "the next logical step in Porter's mission to be the #1 provider of logistics solutions to the Food, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical industries."

• Porter Logistics offers comprehensive 3PL services including complex order fulfillment, bulk distribution, case picking, retail consolidation, inventory management, transloading, and container stripping. (Business Wire)

CCT and Tower Cold Chain to launch new product at LogiPharma 2025 Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) and Tower Cold Chain will make their first united appearance at LogiPharma 2025 in Lyon this April, showcasing their combined expertise in temperature-controlled logistics for pharmaceuticals.

• The highlight of their participation will be the unveiling of a new product developed under their "Let's Go Further" campaign, designed to set new standards in cold chain shipping with universal availability, visibility, and precise temperature control.

• A key feature of the new solution is its compatibility with both EU and US pallets, creating a comprehensive all-in-one solution for global pharmaceutical distribution.

• According to CEO Niall Balfour, the new product addresses "rapidly evolving needs of the pharmaceutical industry" with improved performance, sustainability, and versatility.

• Beyond the exhibition, CCT and Tower will lead four expert sessions on sustainability, ocean freight strategies, and cooling system advancements. (CAAS)

Rising complexity in pharmaceutical logistics requires specialized solutions Pharmaceutical logistics is evolving rapidly, reflecting major shifts in the industry, with increased outsourcing of logistics services and growing complexity.

• The most significant trend is the move toward active temperature control, driven primarily by the rise of temperature-sensitive biopharmaceuticals, which have lower stability than chemically manufactured products.

• Studies indicate that active temperature-controlled transport is not only more cost-effective than passive shipping methods (using specialized packaging) but also more environmentally friendly.

• The climate impact of active temperature control can be 2.63 to 3.93 times lower than passive methods, while avoiding risks associated with delayed deliveries.

• Today's pharmaceutical logistics requires service providers proficient in multiple temperature ranges (ambient, refrigerated, frozen, and ultra-frozen) to accommodate increasingly specialized products.

• Additionally, as therapies are marketed internationally, global distribution networks become essential. (Chem Manager)

Industry Reports

Feeding the Economy Report The Global Cold Chain Alliance celebrates the release of the ninth Feeding the Economy Report showing that agriculture generates $9.5 trillion (18.7% of US economy) while highlighting the critical role of the cold chain in maintaining perishable food supply chains. Access the full report here.

Cold Chain Optimisation Report by Maersk offers insights from 500+ industry leaders on top logistics trends and showcases how major brands are building resilient supply chains to anticipate disruption rather than merely react to it. Access the full report here.

The Future of Speculative Cold Storage Development: Trends and Challenges Report by Colliers examines the pivotal state of the cold storage industry in the US as 40-year-old facilities face growing demand for modernization while pandemic-fueled expansion gives way to slower speculative development amid rising interest rates and economic pressures. Access the full report here.

Other headlines

Americold Realty Trust declares first quarter 2025 dividend of $0.23 per share, payable April 15 to stockholders of record on March 28.

IAG Cargo reports a 22% increase in pharmaceutical temperature-controlled shipments in 2024, with nearly half originating from India and Ireland.

Singapore G opens MustardSeed@SG Cold Store, largest cold storage facility in central Singapore, featuring 16 temperature-controlled rooms designed specifically for SMEs in food, floristry, and pharmaceutical industries.

Lulu Group, an Indian retail conglomerate, plans to develop cold storage facilities in Egypt to enhance the country's export capabilities while expanding its own presence and strengthening Egypt-India trade relations.

Geotab and Thermo King have integrated their technologies to offer fleet managers near real-time visibility of cold chain operations through the MyGeotab platform, enabling temperature monitoring, alerts, and remote control.

Utility Trailer introduces advanced options for its reefer and dry van trailers, including an innovative CenterSeal configuration for multi-temperature transport and a Kinedyne Kaptive beam system for enhanced load securement and double-decking capabilities.

UK leasing firm Hireco will integrate Sunswap's solar and battery-powered Endurance refrigeration units into its commercial fleet, offering zero-emission alternatives that can maintain cooling for 22 hours on a single charge while reducing running costs by up to 81% compared to diesel systems.

A new cold chain and general cargo shipping route between China's Fangchenggang and Cambodia's Koh Kong Port reduces shipping time by 50% and costs by 20%, boosting Cambodia's agricultural export capacity to China.

That’s it for today!

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