Prologis research estimates e-commerce industry in Europe will double over the next five years, affecting supply chains, facilities and talent that support the critical functions of e-fulfilment and logistics.
Prologis has published a research paper that reveals the growth of the e-commerce sector in Europe and how it will affect the region’s broader economy.
A key discovery is that growth in e-commerce over the last three years has translated into 5 million sqm of new e-fulfillment space and is driving job growth in key logistics hotspots.
Poland, as one of the top five major markets for e-commerce in Europe (alongside The U.K. France, Germany and the Czech Republic) represents 13 percent of Europe’s e-commerce direct leasing agreements and drives job growth. The relatively low cost of operating in Poland is one of the reasons for its high ranking.
The research shows how complementary industries, such as logistics real estate that serve as a backbone to e-commerce, will continue to benefit.
The paper, titled “European E-Commerce, E-Fulfilment and Job Creation”, reviews e-fulfilment strategies and customer location preference based on a deep analysis of individual leases. This analysis shows that for every €1 billion in new e-commerce sales, 77,000 square metres of new logistics real estate was needed to fulfil those orders.
Looking ahead, the implications that follow include:
• Job growth: 200,000 new jobs will be needed to staff new e-commerce facilities over the next five years; this translates to 100 jobs per day.
• Multiplier effects: The e-commerce industry will need an additional 15 million square metres of logistics space during the next five years as online sales and shipping volumes grow significantly.
• Location: Facilities in Europe’s largest e-commerce markets, such as the U.K., Germany and France, as well as growth pockets like Poland, Czech Republic and the Netherlands, are the current hotspots.
The research also demonstrates how complementary industries, such as logistics real estate that serves as a backbone to e-commerce, will continue to benefit.
“In the past three years, e-commerce leases accounted for 15 percent of total leasing volume and we expect this ratio to rise further as more companies expand their e-fulfilment capabilities,” said Chris Caton, senior vice president, Prologis Research. “Most growth is expected to occur in Europe’s three largest e-commerce markets, the U.K., Germany and France, which could account for approximately 10 million sqm alone.”
