How Much Does It Cost to Build a 5,000 m³ Seafood Cold Storage Facility?

In the seafood and aquaculture industry, cold storage capacity directly determines product quality, inventory turnover, and profit margins.
A 5,000 cubic meter seafood cold storage is considered a medium-to-large commercial facility, commonly used by seafood processors, distributors, and cold chain logistics companies.

However, the construction cost is not fixed. It depends heavily on storage temperature, storage duration, equipment configuration, and layout design. Below is a practical cost breakdown based on real project experience.

What Can a 5,000 m³ Seafood Cold Storage Hold?

Before discussing cost, investors usually want to know actual storage capacity.

A 5,000 m³ cold storage facility can typically store:

• 1,000–1,200 tons of frozen seafood (shrimp, crab, fish, shellfish)

Cold Storage Type and Temperature Selection

1.Seafood Chilled Cold Storage (Short-Term Storage)

• Temperature: Around 0°C to -5°C
• Purpose: Fresh seafood turnover within days or weeks
• Typical use: Wholesale markets, processing buffer storage

2.Seafood Frozen Cold Storage (Long-Term Storage)

• Temperature: -18°C to -25°C
• Purpose: Long-term preservation (6–12 months or longer)
• Typical use: Export storage, seasonal stockpiling

3.Seafood Quick Freezing Cold Storage (IQF / Blast Freezing)

• Temperature: Below -35°C
• Purpose: Rapid freezing to preserve texture and quality
• Cost: Significantly higher due to powerful refrigeration systems

Estimated Construction Cost for a 5,000 m³ Seafood Cold Storage

Based on industry data and completed projects, the approximate investment range is as follows:

1.Seafood Chilled Cold Storage (0°C)

• Unit cost: USD 40–45 / m³
• Total investment: USD 200,000 – 225,000

2.Seafood Frozen Cold Storage (-18°C to -25°C)

• Unit cost: USD 55–60 / m³
• Total investment: USD 275,000 – 300,000

3.Seafood Quick Freezing Cold Storage

• Unit cost: Higher, depending on freezing capacity and speed
• Total investment: Typically 30–60% higher than frozen storage

Final costs are influenced by insulation thickness, refrigeration brands, energy efficiency requirements, and compartment layout.