According to Savills, the e-commerce boom is continuing to drive demand for industrial and logistics assets across Europe, as new records were set for both levels of investment and leasing activity in 2021. In Poland, take-up in 2021 reached an all-time high and industrial assets accounted for over a half of the total investment volume.
Some €62 billion was invested into industrial real estate across Europe, marking a 79 percent increase on the previous five-year average. The UK (€19.5 billion) outperformed the rest of the continent and accounted for 31 percent of total investment activity. Germany (€8.6 billion), France (€6.5 billion) and Sweden (€5.8 billion) and the Netherlands (€5.7 billion) also recorded strong levels.
Savills research also noted that investment into industrial assets accounted for 66 percent of European omnichannel investment in 2021, up from 47 percent in 2019, as investors were willing to pay premiums to gain exposure to the sector.
“The trend for customers shifting to online shopping throughout the pandemic triggered the e-commerce boom, which has been a major catalyst for this sector’s growth,” comments Mike Barnes, Savills European Research. “So far it has shown little sign of slowing, even as restrictions have lifted and, as a result, the significant weight of capital targeting these assets has compressed prime yields by an average of 27bps to 4.20 percent over the last six months. Portugal, Spain and Finland have hardened by 50 bps each.”
This demand is clearly represented by the unprecedented levels of leasing activity in the industrial sector across Europe last year, with take-up reaching 38 million sqm, 28 percent ahead of the previous five-year average. Germany (8.6 million sqm), the Netherlands (6.9 million sqm) and the UK (5.1 million sqm) drove the lion’s share of leasing activity, whilst Romania (+63 percent), France (+63 percent) and Spain (+62 percent) performed the strongest above their five-year averages.
Savills has observed that the record shortage of prime stock has driven upward pressure on rents, rising an average of 5 percent year on year. London (+25 percent), Dublin (+17 percent) and Prague (12 percent) were the fastest-growing markets in 2021.
Marcus de Minckwitz, Head of Industrial & Logistics, Savills EMEA, suggests, “Market fundamentals have been hugely favourable for the sector in recent years, and they will continue to underpin another strong performance for the year ahead. Our European Logistics Census last year indicated that 46 percent of occupiers anticipate that they will increase their warehouse floor space over the next 12 months, among the highest in the online retail sector. With such constrained supply, we expect to see increased development in the sector, despite rising construction costs, as well as an appetite for assets in non-core locations as investors move up the risk curve in search of higher returns.”
In Poland, the take-up of industrial space in 2021 reached an all-time high of 7.35 million sqm with an 84 percent year on year increase in net absorption. Under construction, space is 55 percent pre-leased before completion and vacancy rates have fallen to under 4 percent. With €2.96 billion transacted, industrial assets accounted for over half of the total investment volume recorded in 2021, representing a 15 percent increase year-on-year.
John Palmer, Head of Industrial Investment, Savills Poland, says: “The warehouse market in Poland is recording record-breaking figures. This trend is set to continue if not accelerate in 2022 and beyond. Investor appetite remains strong for both income-producing assets and portfolios and forward funding of new developments. Poland offers competitive labour rates, FDI incentives, efficient planning and a building permitting system; and all this is backed by growing domestic consumer spending. The dynamics of the occupier is changing with requirements increasingly focused on quality, sustainable and ESG focused properties, professionally managed by long-term landlords”.
