The Czech industrial property market grew by 269,100 sqm in H1 2023, reaching almost 11.3 million sqm. This is a year-on-year increase of more than 11%. Thus, despite higher interest rates, more complex financing, a slowing economy and fluctuations in industrial production, the local industrial property market continues to accelerate its growth: currently at its highest level in five years. This is also linked to a slight increase in vacancy rates and the stabilisation of rental prices according to findings in a recent survey by Colliers. 

European Logistics Investment (ELI) has acquired land in Knurów, Silesia, as part of its expansion strategy in Poland.

Industrial developer Panattoni has purchased over 4 ha of land in Bieruń, where it plans to develop a new industrial park. The company has already delivered two industrial parks in the area and will expand its presence on the new plot that is based close to the Stellantis car factory. 

Austrian company CA Immo has concluded a long-term lease agreement for approx. 8,000 sqm of office space in Millennium Tower I, situated in the Millennium City Center, a large complex just off the river Danube. Cushman & Wakefield and Newmark VLK acted as agents and advisors on the deal.

Real estate practitioners, mark your calendars for July 2024. A new real-time invoice reporting regime will be introduced in Poland, marking both a revolution and evolution in tax digitalization reporting. While technology is driving the implementation of the new rules, the potential benefits for the real estate sector are extensive. Zbigniew Deptuła, Partner, Global Compliance & Reporting and Paulina Faryn, Manager, Global Compliance & Reporting at EY Poland explain how these changes could impact businesses.

Colliers has appointed new managers to lead its industrial and investment divisions in the Czech Republic. Miroslav Kotek has been promoted to head of the industrial real estate team while Omar Sattar has been brought in to head up the real estate investment team. The main aim of this step is to strengthen the potential of both business lines of the company, to respond to the demands of the market and better deal with the dynamics of anticipated future growth in each sector.

The volume of investment in the regional real estate market during H1 2023 was one of the lowest in Central & Eastern Europe. Poland accounted for most of the regional transaction volume at 42%, followed by the Czech Republic with 34%. Total transactions in the Czech Republic in H1 amounted to approximately €692 million, a 42% year-on-year decline and a 9% decrease compared to the same period in 2021. The retail sector saw growing demand, accounting for approximately 61% of transactions. In Q2 of this year, the volume of transactions in the Czech Republic reached €298 million, down 27% compared to the previous quarter, reports Colliers in the survey.

Europe’s share of semiconductor production will need to more than double to reach the EU Chips Act’s target of 20% of global output by 2030, which will also generate demand for warehouse space across the continent.

Skanska has obtained the WELL Core & Shell certification at the Gold level for Building C of the High5ive office complex located in Kraków. This is the first project in the city to be awarded such certification at the highest score.

The yield shift began in Hungary with a bit of a delay compared to the regional countries, where repricing has already become evident. Office maintains its dominance but investors have started to see retail assets as more attractive than before, says Attila Balogh, Head of Capital Markets at Hungarian property advisor firm Eston International.