A recent report by CBRE and Panattoni Europe confirms a sustained positive outlook for the logistics market in Poland. The Logistics and Supply Chain Confidence Index in Poland stands at 57.4 pts (3.3 pts down from last year). Optimism is higher among logistics companies (64.1 pts) than among manufacturers and traders relying on logistics services (50.4 pts). What is more, as many as 8 out of 10 respondents expect to increase their revenues in the coming 12 months, and 6 out of 10 plan to increase headcount.

The vacancy rate slightly increased on the Budapest industrial market to 3.7%. At the end of the Q3 2018 a total of 76,240 sqm stood vacant, and there are only two existing schemes with more than 5,000 sqm of available warehouse space. The Budapest Research Forum published its quarterly industrial market analysis

In response to growing demand in the Czech property market for specialist asset and market analysis, Cushman & Wakefield has expanded its Advisory service line with a newly established team of 3 dedicated professionals headed by Richard Hogg MRICS. In conjunction, Michal Naskos MRICS, a veteran of the valuation industry, becomes Head of Valuation Czech Republic.

Atrium European Real Estate Limited has completed the purchase of the Wars Sawa Junior retail centre in Warsaw, Poland for €301.5 million. Following the acquisition, 84% of the company’s portfolio is located in Poland and the Czech Republic and includes four prime centres in Warsaw and two in Prague.

Ikea has postponed the opening of its €80 million second store in Bucharest for next year. The opening of the store in Eastern Bucharest was initially scheduled for the end of this summer.

Individual investors have subscribed to all offered I-series bonds of Echo Investment. The developer will issue the securities worth PLN 50 million (app. €11.6 million).

Bulgarian shopping mall Plovdiv Plaza will reopen its doors in November following an extensive renovation. The shopping centre will have a total retail area of 35,000 sqm.

The Polish retail market maintains its momentum despite the partial Sunday trading ban. This year’s supply is expected to hit approximately 490,000 sqm, the highest annual level in the last three years. Of that total, 52% will be delivered in cities a population of more than 400,000 while 42% will be handed over in cities with a population of less than 100,000, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest report.

Panattoni Europe announced a new warehouse and manufacturing project which provides for the construction of a hydraulic components factory for Voss Fluid featuring in excess of 10,000 sqm. The investment is situated at the Legnica Special Economic Zone (LSSE) and uses the BTO (build-to-own) formula. The transaction was mediated by JLL. Completion of construction works is anticipated in March 2019.

NEPI Rockcastle announced that it will open Shopping City Satu Mare, its 18th shopping centre in Romania, on 6 December. The two-storey shopping centre will offer 29,000 sqm of leasable space, following an investment of over €40 million.