Lineage certifies first bonded cold storage facility in Seattle to strengthen global import logistics

Why did Lineage open its first bonded cold storage facility at the Port of Seattle to support U.S. importers?

Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ: LINE), the world’s largest temperature-controlled logistics real estate investment trust (REIT), has officially opened its first customs bonded cold storage facility in the state of Washington. The newly certified bonded space is located at the Seattle – Garfield facility on Pier 90, within the Port of Seattle—one of the United States’ most strategic maritime gateways for food imports and global supply chain access.

This development marks a major step for the Michigan-headquartered storage and logistics provider as it bolsters its import-facing infrastructure on the West Coast. The new certification designates the facility as a Class 3 Public bonded warehouse under the oversight of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), allowing the secure storage of imported, temperature-sensitive goods prior to clearance for domestic distribution or export.

The move comes amid intensifying global trade demand for streamlined cold chain logistics that balance compliance, temperature control, and rapid throughput—particularly for food and beverage products that require customs handling and federal inspection.

How does the Seattle bonded site improve Lineage’s role in global cold chain import logistics?

The addition of a bonded warehouse in Seattle enhances Lineage’s ability to support food importers managing U.S. customs compliance while preserving the integrity of perishable shipments. Strategically positioned at 2001 W Garfield Street, the bonded facility allows imported goods to remain under CBP control until duties are settled, documents approved, or re-export decisions made—all without compromising cold chain protocols.

Lineage’s Seattle – Garfield site already provides a full spectrum of import-related services including cold storage, drayage, rail connectivity, USDA and FDA inspection readiness, and on-demand trucking. The new bonded designation complements these offerings by enabling customs clearance to occur within the same logistics node, eliminating unnecessary transfers and delays.

Institutional observers have noted that this level of integration positions Lineage to offer value-added services at a time when importers seek operational resilience and streamlined access to U.S. markets, particularly in light of disruptions stemming from global shipping volatility and regulatory changes.

What does the customs bonded certification mean for temperature-sensitive global food imports?

A Class 3 Public bonded warehouse allows goods to be stored under government custody, providing importers more flexibility on when and how products are entered into commerce. In the case of Lineage’s bonded cold storage in Seattle, this means that frozen or refrigerated food shipments can remain in a temperature-stable environment while awaiting inspection, customs release, or duty payment.

This setup is especially important for importers of meat, seafood, dairy, and produce, who often face strict handling requirements under USDA and FDA regulations. By offering a temperature-controlled bonded solution, Lineage helps shippers meet both food safety and customs criteria simultaneously, reducing spoilage risk and cost exposure.

From a regulatory compliance standpoint, bonded warehousing enables deferred duty payments, which can support more agile import strategies and enhanced inventory control—two factors that institutional investors and operational analysts often highlight as indicators of logistics value-chain strength.

How does this new Seattle warehouse fit within Lineage’s broader U.S. bonded network strategy?

The Seattle – Garfield facility expands Lineage’s nationwide portfolio of customs bonded infrastructure, which now includes 10 bonded warehouses and 42 USDA-approved I-House (Import House) locations. These facilities are tactically located near ports, rail hubs, and population centers to serve importers with regionally tailored cold chain solutions.

The Seattle addition brings bonded warehousing capabilities to one of the Pacific Northwest’s most critical import points. With its proximity to Asia-Pacific trade routes and increasing containerized food flows, Seattle is expected to play a growing role in U.S. food supply chain resilience. The move aligns with Lineage’s strategy of fortifying port-side infrastructure, a priority area amid ongoing shifts in global sourcing and supply diversification.

In its statement, Brian Beattie, President of North America West at Lineage, emphasized the facility’s importance in “anticipating and meeting customer needs in a dynamic global trade environment,” underlining the role of bonded logistics in mitigating import complexity and enhancing regulatory control.

What institutional sentiment surrounds Lineage’s investment in bonded cold chain capabilities?

Though Lineage is a privately operated REIT, its public market positioning on NASDAQ (Ticker: LINE) attracts scrutiny from logistics-focused investors and analysts who track supply chain innovation, port infrastructure, and food security trends.

Institutional sentiment toward bonded cold chain assets has remained broadly positive, with market observers viewing these facilities as critical enablers of post-pandemic trade resilience and regulatory agility. Analysts consider Lineage’s move into bonded warehousing in Seattle to be both timely and strategically aligned with shifting importer priorities—namely, minimizing compliance risk and reducing transit-to-shelf timelines.

By offering bonded cold storage alongside drayage and inspection-readiness, Lineage is seen as capturing increased wallet share from high-volume importers who otherwise need to coordinate with multiple vendors across warehousing, trucking, and customs brokerage services.

What are the expected outcomes for Lineage’s bonded network expansion over the next 12–24 months?

Looking ahead, analysts expect Lineage to expand bonded cold storage capacity in other key U.S. port markets, including the Gulf Coast and East Coast trade corridors. The Seattle site will likely serve as a replicable model for future bonded developments—offering a combined platform of customs custody, cold storage, and intermodal access in one location.

Demand for bonded storage is projected to grow due to increasing perishables trade, regulatory tightening around food imports, and growing retailer and distributor pressure to cut inventory lead times. In that context, facilities like Seattle – Garfield offer Lineage a differentiated, high-value service that may support longer-term revenue growth and tenant stickiness.

Moreover, with 480 facilities worldwide, Lineage has the operational scale to implement bonded strategies across multiple geographies. As more food companies seek integrated import logistics partners, Lineage’s cold chain bond compliance capacity could become a competitive differentiator in securing global sourcing contracts and institutional customers.