Importer & origin hub · data year 2024
Refrigeration equipment trade in 2024: where equipment is bought and where it comes from
Short answer: in 2024 the United States was the largest reported importer of HS 841869 refrigerating/freezing equipment (US$2.81B), and China the largest exporter (US$3.36B), according to World Bank WITS (UN Comtrade). These equipment codes are sourcing context only — they do not measure cold-storage capacity, cold-chain logistics or project demand, and they cannot replace your own engineering data.
Values in US dollars as reported by WITS for 2024; read 2026-10-21. Ranks are among reporters in each WITS table. ColdMatch Group editorial team.
What the two HS codes cover — and what they do not
HS 841850 — other refrigerating or freezing chests, cabinets and display counters
Furniture-type units such as commercial chests, cabinets, display counters and showcases with refrigerating or freezing equipment.
Not covered: It is not warehouse or cold-store construction, industrial refrigeration plant or blast freezing, and is mostly relevant to retail, foodservice and small-room equipment buyers.
HS 841869 — refrigerating or freezing equipment n.e.s.
A broad residual heading for refrigerating/freezing equipment not classified elsewhere in heading 8418. Depending on national classification it can include items such as industrial chilling or freezing units and other refrigeration plant.
Not covered: It excludes household refrigerators, display/storage cabinets (8418.50), compressors (8414), heat pumps classified elsewhere, insulated panels, doors, racking, controls and installation services, so it is not the value of cold-room or cold-store projects.
National tariff lines below the six-digit level differ, so the same product can be classified differently between countries. Confirm classification with a licensed customs broker or the importing country's customs authority.
Final-use markets: largest reported importers
Import value shows where equipment is purchased, not unused warehouse capacity or a live tender. Each market guide explains buyer context, required project data, standards and authorities, and the RFQ route.
Imports, 2024
| Reporter | HS 841869 | HS 841850 | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | US$2.81B (#1) | US$1.30B (#1) | Market guide |
| European Union (reporter group) | US$795.8M (#2) | US$817.9M (#2) | — |
| Germany | US$794.6M (#3) | US$609.9M (#3) | Market guide |
| China | US$719.7M (#4) | US$16.0M (#64) | Market guide |
| Canada | US$645.8M (#5) | US$213.0M (#6) | Market guide |
| United Kingdom | US$518.1M (#6) | US$321.0M (#5) | Market guide |
| Mexico | US$434.0M (#7) | US$70.0M (#19) | Market guide |
| Australia | US$356.5M (#8) | US$208.2M (#7) | Market guide |
| Saudi Arabia | US$275.2M (#9) | US$183.6M (#8) | Market guide |
| Japan | US$225.1M (#17) | US$144.0M (#11) | Market guide |
| South Africa | US$96.3M (#30) | US$69.1M (#21) | Market guide |
Equipment origins: largest reported exporters
Origin hubs are where equipment is manufactured or traded from; they are kept separate from final-use markets. An export total says nothing about any individual manufacturer's capability, certification, lead time or after-sales support in your country.
Exports, 2024
| Reporter | HS 841869 | HS 841850 | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | US$3.36B (#1) | US$2.02B (#1) | Market guide |
| European Union (reporter group) | US$2.33B (#2) | US$1.06B (#2) | — |
| United States | US$1.47B (#3) | US$239.8M (#8) | Market guide |
| Italy | US$1.35B (#4) | US$1.05B (#3) | Market guide |
| Mexico | US$1.26B (#5) | US$550.5M (#6) | Market guide |
| Türkiye | US$177.5M (#15) | US$556.3M (#5) | Market guide |
| Austria | US$83.9M (#21) | US$580.4M (#4) | Market guide |
European Union (reporter group): WITS lists the EU as its own reporter alongside member states such as Germany and Italy; do not add EU and member-state values together.
From trade context to a comparable refrigeration RFQ
- Define the application (food, agriculture, seafood, poultry, pharmaceutical or other) and the products handled.
- Record temperatures, capacity, daily throughput and room volumes as specified by you or your engineer — ColdMatch does not size systems.
- Add site ambient conditions, power supply, refrigerant constraints, redundancy, monitoring, installation, commissioning, service and spares.
- State destination, target completion and preferred Incoterm; separate equipment supply from local civil, electrical and permit scope.
- Submit the RFQ. The ColdMatch team reviews requests of USD 250,000 and above, contacts suitable suppliers on your behalf and presents organized responses. Buyers pay nothing; there is no direct buyer-to-supplier contact.
Engineering sizing and local code review are required before any equipment is selected.
Regulations vary by country, application and design
Refrigerant rules, safety, building and electrical codes, food and pharmaceutical temperature-mapping expectations and import documentation differ between countries and depend on the application, refrigerant charge and system design. No refrigerant or design is suitable or permitted everywhere, and this page gives no clearance or compliance guarantee.
- European Union: Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases (EUR-Lex).
- International HFC phase-down: European Commission — international action on F-gases (Montreal Protocol, Kigali Amendment); national schedules differ.
- Confirm local requirements with a qualified engineer, the competent authority and, for imports, a licensed customs broker.
Frequently asked questions
Is HS 841869 trade the size of the cold-chain market?
No. HS 841869 is a residual equipment category. Its trade value does not measure cold-storage capacity, cold-chain logistics revenue, reefer transport, warehouse demand or the refrigeration project pipeline, and it excludes many cold-store components such as compressors, insulated panels, doors, racking and installation.
Why do the United States, Germany and the EU all appear as top importers?
WITS lists the European Union as a reporter group alongside individual member states, so Germany's figure is part of the wider European picture and the two must not be added together. A high import value shows where equipment is bought, not that a particular project or buyer exists.
Does a large exporter mean its suppliers are suitable for my project?
No. Export value says nothing about a specific manufacturer's capability, certification, lead time or support in your country. ColdMatch reviews the project brief first and then contacts suppliers whose published scope fits; no listing or country implies a supplier is vetted or available.
Which refrigerant or design is allowed in my country?
It depends on the country, the application, the system charge and the design. In the EU, Regulation (EU) 2024/573 sets F-gas rules; internationally, HFC phase-down follows the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol with national schedules. Confirm local refrigerant, safety, building and electrical requirements with a qualified engineer and the competent authority.
What project data should I prepare before requesting quotes?
Application and products, storage or process temperatures specified by you or your engineer, capacity, daily throughput, room dimensions, site ambient conditions, any heat-load calculation, refrigerant constraints, power supply, redundancy, monitoring, installation and commissioning scope, service and spares, destination and preferred Incoterm. ColdMatch reviews requests of USD 250,000 and above; buyers pay nothing.