Saturation at Canary Islands’ frozen warehouses: the cold logistics sector has closed the first quarter of 2026 under maximum operational pressure, reaching an average occupancy of 95% in its frozen-product storage facilities.
This figure places the archipelago at the same level as the Valencian Community and the North, leading the occupancy rate nationwide and far surpassing the Spanish average, which stood at 92%, according to data from the Association of Refrigeration, Logistics and Distribution Operators of Spain (ALDEFE).
For its part, regions such as the South recorded 93%, while the Center and Catalonia remained at 90%, leaving the lowest figures for Asturias and Galicia at 85%. This figure confirms the consolidation of a change in how refrigeration capacity is managed at the state level. Between 2021 and 2024, average occupancy ranged from a comfort band of 76% to 82%, ending 2024 at 79%.
However, starting in the first quarter of 2025, there was a structural jump above 90%, which has remained steady until the beginning of 2026. This evolution reflects intensive, uninterrupted use of facilities, reducing companies’ operational buffer to absorb seasonal demand spikes, energy incidents or unforeseen supply issues. Behind the increase in occupancy is the strong momentum of food consumption, especially in key categories for island distribution and the Horeca channel.
During the first quarter of 2026, sales of frozen products grew by 8.9% in value and 5.8% in volume. Cooked and pre-prepared meals advanced by 5.7% in value and 4.9% in volume, while dairy by-products and cheeses saw notable increases of up to 7.1% in value and 3.9% in volume. This market transformation creates complex operational demands for the cold chain in the Canary Islands.
The wider variety of references, faster product rotation, and competition among large retailers, hospitality businesses and convenience platforms require more complex picking services, efficient last-mile logistics, and strict thermal control. In an island setting, operating with only a 5% free margin in cold storage warehouses demands maximum flexibility and impeccable response speed to ensure continuous supply across the entire territory.
Saturation at Canary Islands’ frozen warehouses: record occupancy of 95% was first published on canarymaritime.com.
