Prime logistics rents in hub markets increased 2.8 percent year-over-year amid strong demand from supply chain users seeking modern distribution facilities to accommodate growing global trade and e-commerce activity, according to CBRE’s inaugural Global Prime Logistics Rents report.
“Global consumer demand is strong, and an ever-increasing share of retail sales are taking place online, which is prompting traditional retailers, e-commerce companies and third-party logistics firms to seek out advanced ‘prime’ logistics warehouses to modernize their supply chains to facilitate the rapid delivery of goods,” said Richard Barkham, CBRE’s global chief economist.
Hong Kong topped the list of “most expensive” markets worldwide, with prime logistics rents of US$28.94 per sq. ft. per annum, followed by Tokyo (US$16.74 per sq. ft.) and London (US$16.36 per sq. ft.). The top market in the Americas was Los Angeles-Orange County, ranked 12th globally at US$8.04 per sq. ft.
“Land-constrained markets command a significant rent premium,” noted David Egan, head of industrial and logistics research in the Americas for CBRE. “Markets where land is more plentiful, most notably major U.S. hubs like Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, are more affordable.”
Regionally, prime logistics rents were up 5.6 percent year-over-year in the Americas, 2.5 percent in Asia Pacific and 0.8 percent in EMEA. Eight of the 10 fastest-growing markets were in the Americas, led by Oakland (up 29.8 percent year-over-year), New Jersey (up 15.0 percent year-over-year), and the Inland Empire (up 13.5 percent year-over-year).
CBRE tracks prime rents—the highest achievable rents for the logistics facility of the highest quality and specification—in 68 logistics hubs around the world. Fifty-nine percent (40 markets) of tracked markets saw year-over-year increases in rents, 25 percent (17 markets) saw no change and only 16 percent (11 markets) saw decreases.
European markets saw more marginal gains overall, with several hubs experiencing no growth at all. The U.K. Midlands, London and Berlin saw the strongest growth, with an average of 7.9 percent year-over-year growth in prime industrial rents. These areas are seeing increased demand from e-commerce-related users as more Europeans shop online. On the other end of the spectrum, Moscow had the deepest decline, showing a 45.8 percent drop in prime industrial rents (measured in U.S. dollars) due to declining oil prices that have led to recessionary conditions.
Olesya Dzuba, Director, Strategic Analysis and Planning Department CBRE in Russia, said: “Prime logistics rents in the Moscow Region declined two times in USD terms on the back of rouble devaluation. After the correction the market now offers attractive price levels for buying logistics, both to investors and end-users. It is now more efficient to purchase an existing facility, or built-to-suit in the existing logistic parks, rather than constructing by themselves. Current pricing attracted new buyers on the market, both investors (Mubadala bought two large warehouse complex of about 200,000 sqm) and end-users, mostly large retailers. Sale price has approached the cost of construction, and the abilities for cost optimization are almost over even for systemic developers. Inflation and imported construction materials will stimulate the growth of construction costs. In its turn it will result in increase of sale prices, thus closing the current window of opportunities.”
