Łódź is steadily strengthening its position as one of Europe’s key industrial and logistics hubs. The latest report, “Łódź 2025. Industry | Innovation | Infrastructure”, prepared by Savills Poland in cooperation with Invest in Łódź – Business Development and International Relations Bureau, shows that the city’s central location within the so-called “Golden Triangle” (Warsaw–Łódź–Wrocław–Poznań), combined with modern infrastructure and access to a highly skilled workforce, creates exceptional conditions for investors. This macro-region generates 47 percent of Poland’s GDP and, in the coming years, is set to become one of the main engines of growth for the entire Central and Eastern European region.
Łódź at the heart of global supply chains
With its central location, Łódź has become a natural gateway connecting Europe’s main transport corridors. The city lies at the crossroads of major motorways, railway lines and international trade routes. It is also a strategic hub of the China–Europe Railway Express (Silk Road), part of the Belt and Road Initiative, handling over 3,300 trains each year – an average of 63 per week – linking Asia and Europe and ensuring fast cargo flows within just a few days.
The planned High-Speed Rail, developed under the Central Communication Port (CPK) project, will further enhance Łódź’s position. It will cut the travel time to Warsaw to just 45 minutes and provide direct access to the future CPK airport in only half an hour.
“Łódź has been steadily building its position as the leading logistics hub and a key crossroads for global supply chains in Central and Eastern Europe. Strategic segments of supply and distribution are already managed here, which is why investments in Łódź and the region deliver more than just access to modern facilities. They provide a real competitive edge – faster deliveries, more efficient cost management, and the ability to serve clients at scale. In the years ahead, this advantage will only grow in importance,” says Michał Chodecki, Director, Head of Industrial, Savills.
Scale and record-breaking growth dynamics
The Łódź region is Poland’s third-largest warehouse market, after Warsaw and Upper Silesia. The current stock of modern logistics space amounts to 4.97 million sqm and will exceed the 5 million sqm threshold in the second half of this year. Over the past five years, average annual demand for logistics space has reached 820,000 sqm, while in 2024 it hit a record level of 1 million sqm. This pace of growth makes Łódź one of the fastest-growing warehouse markets in the entire European Union.
“Central Poland is developing at a pace rarely seen in many of Europe’s more mature markets. Łódź is about to reach the 5 million sqm milestone in modern warehouse space, with one in every three square metres delivered in just the past three years. This clearly shows that investors want to be part of this transformation today,” adds Michał Chodecki.
The tenant mix in the Łódź region is broad and well diversified: 32 percent of leasing transactions are generated by retail and FMCG chains, 29 percent by logistics operators (3PLs) and courier companies, followed by e-commerce (9 percent) and household appliance manufacturing (4 percent). The region continues to attract global players – Amazon, Allegro, Zalando, DHL, OBI, Inditex, B/S/H, and Rossmann have all been expanding their distribution and production centres here.
The vacancy rate has fallen to 8.9 percent, with almost half of the new projects in 2024 (48 percent) leased immediately upon completion. Even stronger is the level of pre-lets in projects under construction, which reached 71 percent by mid-2025 – placing Łódź among the leading European markets in terms of securing space ahead of delivery.
New infrastructure investments, led by the Central Communication Port (CPK) project, are shifting Poland’s economic centre of gravity. At the heart of the so-called “Golden Triangle” – the area encompassing Warsaw, Łódź, Wrocław and Poznań, which already generates 47 percent of Poland’s GDP – lies Łódź. Its position at the intersection of the planned High-Speed Rail network gives the city a unique opportunity to become the core of this macro-region, linking transport, business and human capital.
“In the coming years, Łódź has the potential to play a key role as a modern industrial and logistics hub for both Poland and Central Europe. With its strategic central location and well-developed transport infrastructure – including motorways, rail and intermodal terminals – the city is becoming an important base for distribution and production. Global manufacturing companies such as ABB, B/S/H, Corning, Dell, Hitachi and P&G have been operating here for years, and continue to reinvest and expand their activities,” says Mateusz Sipa, Director of Invest in Łódź.
Ecosystem supporting investors
Łódź offers not only a strategic location but also a business-friendly environment and access to modern resources. A key role is played by the Łódź Special Economic Zone (ŁSSE), which, since its establishment, has attracted more than 759 investment projects worth a total of PLN 34.5 billion, creating 33,800 jobs. In Łódź alone, 119 projects with a combined value of PLN 4 billion have been completed, resulting in 10,000 new jobs.
The region also stands out for its strong educational and talent base. Today, 72,000 students are enrolled in Łódź, and each year local universities graduate around 17,300 students, many of them specialists in automation, robotics, IT and production engineering.
“One of the key strengths of Lodz’s universities – with Lodz University of Technology and the University of Lodz at the forefront – is their openness to collaboration with employers and their proven track record in creating customised study programmes that match the needs of the local economy. In addition, as Invest in Łódź, we have for years been running initiatives such as ‘Youth in Łódź’, ‘Taste Studying in Łódź’ and ‘Taste Working in Łódź’, aimed at encouraging young people first to study, and then to build their careers in our city,” adds Mateusz Sipa, Director of Invest in Łódź.
“Łódź builds its competitive edge not only on location, but also on quality. ESG has become a standard here, and access to a skilled workforce makes the region well-prepared for investments in Industry 4.0, light manufacturing and research & development centres. Increasingly, warehouses serve as back-up facilities for innovative technologies, positioning Łódź as a genuine competitor to many of Western Europe’s mature markets,” stresses Patrycja Dzikowska, Associate Director, Research, Savills.
Łódź is building today for tomorrow’s success
Łódź is at a unique point in its development – rising demand from global companies, rapid infrastructure modernisation, and a growing number of green investments make the region stand out among Central and Eastern European markets. This is where traditional logistics meets technology and sustainability, and where investment decisions have a strong business case.
The report “Łódź 2025. Industry | Innovation | Infrastructure” was created in cooperation with local businesses, investors and experts. Contributors include Hatrans Logistics, Corning, Hitachi Energy, Rock Communication, Grafton Recruitment, as well as the Łódź Special Economic Zone, “LODZistics” Logistics Network of Central Poland and the Łódź Airport Central Poland. The publication serves as a guide for companies and investors seeking new growth opportunities in Central Europe.
