The demand for logistics and industrial spaces reached 562,000 sqm during the first 9 months of this year, a slight decrease of only 3 percent compared with the same period of 2020, according to the Cushman & Wakefield Echinox real estate consulting company. The leasing activity was driven mostly by new demand, which accounted for 86 percent of the transacted volume.
The demand for logistics spaces remained solid in Q3 2021, a total leasing activity of 202,000 sqm being recorded, compared with 160,000 sqm contracted in the previous quarter and 200,000 sqm in Q1 2021.
Renewals accounted for only 14 percent of the transacted volume, thus the vacancy rate in Bucharest continued to decrease, reaching 5.6 percent, with an overall level of 4.7 percent across Romania.
Bucharest remains the preferred destination for companies in search of industrial and logistics spaces, having a share of 65 percent of the Q1-Q3 transacted volume, while Timisoara, Brasov and Cluj have been the most active regional markets.
Amongst the most significant deals signed in Q3 2021, we could mention the 12,000 sqm pre-lease closed by CTP with Rohlik in CTPark Bucharest North, KLG’s 6,000 sqm expansion in CTPark Bucharest West and Bohnenkamp’s 6,000 sqm new lease in ELI Park.
The construction activity went ahead full speed on several sites during the summer, as developers managed to deliver new buildings with a total area of over 130,000 sqm. The most significant deliveries were represented by LPP’s 22,000 sqm expansion of their distribution centre within WDP Park Stefanesti, while CTP completed the second phase of CTPark Bucharest North.
In total, the new supply reached 338,600 sqm in the first 9 months of the year, while premises of over 260,000 sqm are under construction and are expected to be delivered by the end of this year. As such, the new supply for 2021 should exceed the 600,000 sqm threshold, setting the scene for a positive 2022.
Rodica Târcavu, Partner Industrial Agency Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, commented, “Encouraged by the positive evolution of both consumption and industrial production, developers are determined to extend their portfolios through new land or asset acquisitions. Their optimism has been backed by the strong demand recorded during the last 18 months, which materialized in a volume of over 1.5 million sqm industrial and logistics spaces being leased in this period. The industrial and logistics market is developing rapidly and we are witnesses of a reconfiguration of the map of logistics parks in Romania through the establishment of large regional distribution hubs by renowned international companies such as Ikea, LPP or epantofi.ro.”
CTP and WDP, the dominant players, are already present in more than 10 cities each, while VGP, Globalworth and Element Industrial are also aiming to develop national platforms. New projects are being built in Bucharest and in the major cities, but also in Roman, Turda, Dej, Calan and Buzau, as occupiers are extending their business interest also towards secondary or tertiary cities.
