China's cold-chain logistics sector saw rising demand and an expanding market in the first half of the year, driven by policies aimed at boosting domestic consumption, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) announced on Monday.

In the first six months, the total demand for food-related cold-chain logistics reached 192 million tons, up 4.35 percent year on year, and revenue for service providers in the segment totaled 279.94 billion yuan (38.98 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 3.84-percent year-on-year rise, according to CFLP data.

"China's cold-chain logistics sector witnessed an overall trend of a steady demand in the first half of the year, with expanding scale and structural adjustment. In particular, as fresh agricultural products entered their peak consumption season, the food cold-chain logistics sector achieved growth against the broader trend, and its resilience was further enhanced," said Liu Fei, executive deputy secretary-general of the cold chain logistics committee of the CFLP.

A major logistics transit hub in Zhongmu, central China's Henan Province, offered a vivid snapshot of the cold-chain logistics sector's development. Refrigerated trucks filled the yard and waited for loading and unloading amid surging demand.

According to the logistics transit hub, cargo throughput had risen sharply this year, particularly during periods of extreme heat. In July alone, the hub handled 2.9 million standard containers, nearly double the volume from the same period last year.