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Record hights for European industrial property

London - Moscow

• Over €24.5bn invested across Europe, a 4% increase on 2015
• Take-Up across Europe tops 2015 record 
• Germany dominates 2016 investment volumes with transactions totalling €4.5bn

European industrial property witnessed its strongest year yet, with investment volumes reaching a record high of €24.5 billion in 2016, according to global real estate advisor, CBRE. Germany, Norway, Spain and CEE all reported record trading activity for the year meaning 2016 volumes were four per cent higher than in 2015.

In addition to historically high investment volumes, 2016 was a record year for take-up in Europe. Total take-up volumes for the nine core markets of the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic reached the 21 million square metre mark for the first time, outperforming the previous mark of 19 million square metres in 2015. 

The UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy all had record years in terms of take-up, significantly impacted by the rise in demand from the e-commerce and retail industries. In the United Kingdom, over 50 percent of the 2.8 million square meters of take-up can be attributed to these two industries. Supply chain logistics are adapting accordingly to the occupier shift, which has further stimulated construction and manufacturing improvements to support growth and competitiveness. 

Take up in the ‘G32’ hubs, the largest and most important logistic hubs in Europe, also achieved a record 11.9 million square meters in 2016, surpassing the 2015 record of 11.75 million. However, the impact on vacancy rates across Europe remained modest, with the weighted average for the core markets moving up by 20 bps y-on-y from 5.1 to 5.3%. 

Amaury Gariel, Managing Director of EMEA Industrial & Logistics at CBRE commented:

“Logistics has become the fastest-growing sector in real estate across Europe, and is perceived as the least politically sensitive asset class. In 2016, the sector took the title of best performing asset class and continues to attract significant investor interest and capital. Institutional funds remain attracted by stability in Germany and Norway, whilst the favorable economic outlook for Spain and CEE provides solid fundamentals for future growth.”

Olesya Dzuba, Director, Head of Research, CBRE in Russia said: 

“Vacancy rate has stabilised and demand has recovered on warehouse market of Moscow region. Those are signals of gradual improvement of market environment. Supply volume will contract further, to 500-600 thousand sq m in 2017, new buildings will be built mainly for specific clients. Dynamics of positive changes may strengthen in second half of the year along with vacancy decrease and growth of rents. Take-up is forecasted at 0.9-1 mn sq m in 2017. As a result of lower delivery and strong demand, the vacancy rate may decline to up to 11%.”