U.S. Warehouse Capacity Rises

WASHINGTON - Jan 31/06 - SNS -- General refrigerated storage capacity in the United States totaled 3.21 billion gross cubic feet on October 1, 2005, an increase of 2% since the previous survey was conducted two years ago, according to the USDA.

While most of the increase was due to new construction, some was due to the increased survey coverage of existing warehouses. This was the 44th biennial survey of refrigerated warehouses.

The five States with the largest gross general warehouse capacity (million cubic feet) were: California with 399; Florida, 253; Washington, 195; Wisconsin, 179 and Texas with 153.

Usable refrigerated space in general storages was 2.58 billion cubic feet, or 80% of the gross space. Usable freezer space was 78% of the usable refrigerated space with the remaining 22% used as cooler space. Convertible refrigerated space was classified as usable freezer space.

Public general warehouse capacity totaled 2.44 billion gross cubic feet in 2005, accounting for 76% of the general storage. Public general storage capacity increased 3% since 2003 and is 40% above the capacity of ten years ago.

Private and semiprivate general warehouse capacity totaled 772 million gross cubic feet, or 24% of the general gross refrigerated space.

Apple and pear storage totaled 721 million gross cubic feet, down 2% from October 1, 2003. Controlled atmosphere (CA) capacity totaled 173 million bushels, up 2% from 2003. The State of Washington had 82% of the Nation's CA capacity.

                Refrigerated Warehouses:  Number by Type, State,
                       and United States, October 1, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :       General Storages        :    Apple & Pear Storages    :
        :-------------------------------------------------------------:
  State :         : Private & :         :         :         :         :  Total
        : Public  : Semiprvt  :  Total  : Regular :   CA    : All 1/  :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                                Number
        :
AL      :    13          8          21                                      21
AK      :     2         22          24                                      24
AZ      :     7          2           9         1        1          1        10
AR      :    15          6          21                                      21
CA      :   111         82         193        31       11         35       228
CO      :     8          3          11                                      11
CT      :     4          4           8        28        6         28        36
DE      :     4          6          10         2                   2        12
FL      :    38         26          64                                      64
GA      :    32         27          59                                      59
HI      :     3          1           4                                       4
ID      :     7         15          22         7        5          7        29
IL      :    26         21          47        10        1         11        58
IN      :    20          6          26        32        4         34        60
IA      :    32          9          41                  1          1        42
KS      :    11          1          12         1                   1        13
KY      :     6          1           7         3                   3        10
LA      :    16          9          25                                      25
ME      :     2         17          19        19       14         22        41
MD      :     7          4          11         5        3          6        17
MA      :    29         31          60        51       23         54       114
MI      :    24         18          42       126       91        155       197
MN      :    23         22          45        11        1         11        56
MS      :    10          3          13                                      13
MO      :    22          8          30         4                   4        34
MT      :     2          4           6                                       6
NE      :    16          9          25                  1          1        26
NV      :     2          2           4                                       4
NH      :     2          2           4        22       10         22        26
NJ      :    26         11          37        20        3         22        59
NM      :     1          6           7         1                   1         8
NY      :    29         58          87       123       85        136       223
NC      :    15          6          21        13        2         14        35
ND      :     4          1           5                                       5
OH      :    18          5          23        60       14         61        84
OK      :     7          4          11                                      11
OR      :    15         24          39        64       18         67       106
PA      :    36         22          58       147       14        150       208
RI      :                3           3         5        2          7        10
SC      :     8          4          12         2                   2        14
SD      :     2          3           5                                       5
TN      :    10          4          14                                      14
TX      :    33         30          63                                      63
UT      :    10          9          19        16        5         17        36
VT      :                3           3        11        5         12        15
VA      :    21         13          34        29       11         30        64
WA      :    43         35          78       185      204        241       319
WV      :     2          2           4        11        4         13        17
WI      :    46         69         115        16        3         16       131
WY      :     1                      1                                       1
        :
US      :   821        681       1,502     1,056      542      1,187     2,689
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Firms with both regular and CA storage are counted once.




             General Refrigerated Warehouses:  Number by Size Group,
                         United States, October 1, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                 :                 :
           Size           :     Public      :     Private     :       All
       (Cubic Feet)       :                 :                 :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          :                       Number
                          :
0-499,999                 :       121               362               483
500,000-999,999           :       104               112               216
1,000,000-2,499,999       :       234               113               347
2,500,000-4,999,999       :       221                72               293
5,000,000 and Over        :       141                22               163
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------