The Blast-Freezing operation is designed to optimize export logistics for animal proteins from Chile’s central region.
Chile, june 2026 – Emergent Cold LatAm will bring two new blast-freezing tunnels in San Antonio into operation at the end of June, a project aimed at strengthening logistics processes related to the export and storage of temperature-controlled products.
The new facilities will enable the processing of more than 10,500 tons of frozen food annually in San Antonio, strengthening the specialized infrastructure available to the protein export industry and bringing freezing operations closer to the country’s main port.
This investment is part of the US$500 million the company has invested in Chile and is focused on producers and exporters of seafood, pork, poultry, and other animal proteins, amid growing demand for specialized cold chain solutions and high food safety standards.
“San Antonio is Chile’s main port of entry and exit. With this new investment, we will support producers and exporters in making their export operations more efficient, enabling them to increase production capacity through state-of-the-art technology that helps preserve food quality and safety,” said Lucas Ballivián, General Manager of Emergent Cold LatAm in Chile.
The technology incorporates CO₂ refrigeration systems that enable ultra-fast freezing processes, helping preserve product quality, improve operational efficiency, and advance solutions aligned with sustainability standards.
In addition, the new infrastructure will allow products to be frozen, consolidated, and inspected in San Antonio before export, reducing intermediate transportation, optimizing operational timelines, and strengthening exporters’ competitiveness.
Logistics Expansion and Cold Chain Automation
Emergent Cold LatAm currently operates nine cold storage facilities in Chile, located in Santiago, Casablanca, San Antonio, Talcahuano, San Pedro de la Paz, and Puerto Varas, reinforcing Chile’s position as one of the company’s key markets in the region, alongside Brazil and Mexico.
Across the region, the company operates in 11 Latin American countries, with 110 cold storage facilities and 9.4 million cubic meters of storage capacity. It is currently the largest cold chain operator in Latin America and the fifth largest globally, according to the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), the leading association representing cold chain operators worldwide.
Among its operations in Chile, the company is also developing projects focused on logistics automation and operational efficiency, including the automated cold storage facility located in Maipú, Santiago. This facility is the largest automated cold storage warehouse in Latin America. The project involved an investment of US$35 million and incorporates high-capacity ASRS systems for automated pallet storage and movement.
At the same time, Emergent Cold LatAm continues to advance initiatives related to energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. Two of the company’s cold storage facilities in Chile have achieved EDGE Zero Carbon certification (carbon-neutral facilities), while two others have received EDGE Advanced certification, associated with reductions of at least 40% in energy and water consumption.
About Emergent Cold LatAm
Emergent Cold LatAm is the largest provider of temperature-controlled food logistics solutions in Latin America. Founded in August 2021 to address the need for modern cold chain solutions and the growing demand from local and global customers, the company quickly established itself as a recognized leader in the industry.
Emergent Cold LatAm (www.emergentcoldlatam.com) is building a high-quality cold chain network to deliver integrated temperature-controlled food logistics solutions throughout the region. Today, the company’s network includes 110 food warehouses across 11 Latin American countries. In addition, it has six construction or expansion projects currently under development in different countries. Its principal investors include Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, Lineage, and D1 Capital.
