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The containerized refrigerated shipping market in 2024 has been a tale of the haves and have-nots. In the US, refrigerated imports were up 7% in the first eight months of the year, led by fruits and vegetables, particularly from the Southern hemisphere. Exports, however, extended their 2023 decline into this year, falling 4%, with proteins such as meat, poultry, and pork falling 5%. Overall, US refrigerated imports are twice that of exports, a gap only expected to widen going forward, according to Eskesen Advisory. Globally, perishables have spurred a slight recovery in reefer volumes following a slowdown in 2023 brought about by demand-stifling inflation in multiple economies, as well as supply chain disruptions tied to a months-long drought in the Panama Canal and shipping diversions away from the Suez Canal related to Red Sea Houthi attacks on ships. As a result, 2024 is shaping up as a year of slow to moderate growth in reefer volumes, driven by growth in global population, and growth in demand in the US and Asia. The longer-term future is bright, with market research firm Future Market Insights forecasting the global containerized reefer market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.9% through 2034, to $10.5 billion. With inflation starting to be tamed, and with consumer sentiment riding high, this session will analyze the demand outlook for the cold chain overall, as well as particular segments such as seafood, agricultural goods, and frozen food, and how well ocean carriers are prepared to handle it.