Logistics Giants Pour Millions Into GLP-1 Cold Chains as Market Targets $39.1 Billion by 2033
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 25
Logistics Giants Pour Millions Into GLP-1 Cold Chains as Market Targets $39.1 Billion by 2033
1 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 25
Summary
$48 million from UPS and broader spending by FedEx, C.H. Robinson and DHL are expanding temperature-controlled networks to handle surging GLP-1 and other specialty-drug shipments.
11% of Americans now take GLP-1s for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024, driving demand for refrigerated transport because drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound can lose efficacy if shipped warm.
Healthcare logistics is already paying off: UPS posted its first $3 billion healthcare-revenue quarter, FedEx said fiscal 2026 healthcare transportation revenue neared $10 billion, and C.H. Robinson topped $1 billion over the past year.
8.3% annual growth through 2033 in temperature-sensitive biologics is tightening refrigerated capacity, while shorter shelf lives, direct-to-consumer delivery and stricter visibility needs are making execution more complex.
DHL, which plans to invest 2 billion euros in health logistics by 2030, says pharma supply chains are shifting toward biopharma, increasing demand for resilient multi-temperature networks and AI-based monitoring.