The global market for Cold Insulation is projected to reach US$6.9 billion by 2025, driven by the ubiquity and ever-present importance of Industrial refrigeration in food processing, chemical, pharmaceutical manufacturing, refrigerated transport, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), among others. Few of the benefits of cold insulation include lower energy consumption/costs; prevents moisture condensation; enhances industrial process performance; enhances performance of refrigeration equipment; reduces emissions of pollutants; reduces noise; optimum maintenance of process temperatures and improved quality of product manufactured; ensures operating safety and protection of personnel; and prevents mold and mildew growth. Cold insulation also retards condensation by keeping surface temperatures above dew point and as a result restricts corrosion. This is an important advantage for cold pipeline insulation. Environment friendliness is also major economic and financial benefit for companies relying on process refrigeration. Lower energy consumption leads to parallel reduction in VOCs, CEs, NOX, SOX, carbon monoxide and mercury emissions. And in the current era of carbon taxes where companies are made to pay for pollution by punitive regulations, this is an important advantage. Few of the popular materials used in cold insulation include polyurethane foam, rubber foam, and foam glass. While polyurethane foam possesses characteristics such as low smoke emission and low water vapor permeability, rubber foam features high resistance to moisture vapor. Phenolic foams are also widely used. Phenolic foams have a fine cellular structure and a closed cell content of more than 95%. They are lightweight and easy to handle, transport, and install. In addition, they can be manufactured with varying densities, ranging between 35 kg/m3 and 200 kg/m3. High density variants, such as phenolic insulation boards offer superior stability and strength that make them ideal for floor insulation. Moreover, phenolic foams are mold, fungus, and vermin resistant and offer the capability of withstanding temperatures of up to 120oC.

Among the numerous application areas, cold chain storage, distribution, warehousing and logistics are poised to provide the largest growth opportunity. Cold insulation is vital in ensuring effectiveness of cold chain equipment like ice-lined refrigerators, on-grid freezers, cold boxes & refrigerated vehicles to ensure quality, health, and integrity of products being transported and delivered. With competition intensifying in the food cold chain, industry players are feeling the heat to keep refrigerated freight frosty. Few of the factors driving consumption of chilled and frozen foods worldwide include growth in quick service restaurants, fast food chains and hypermarkets; rise in demand for different ethnic and international cuisine; innovation in frozen food product packaging; changing consumer perception over the nutritional benefits of frozen foods; and launch of healthy frozen foods with as low sodium, low calorie and high fiber ingredients. The market is forecast to receive an adrenalin boost with globalization of food making cold chains more global, leading to refrigerated transport vehicles traveling extended distances. The United States and Europe represent large markets worldwide with a combined share of 54.8% of the market. China ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 11.3% over the analysis period supported by the country's rapidly expanding cold chain logistics industry on the back of rapid urbanization and dietary changes of the locals. As e-commerce and logistics companies step up their investments for the establishment of cold chain warehouses, the market stands to richly benefit.