Aggregate revenue reported by nearly 20 construction groups whose stock is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange grew by a nominal 4.3% in 2020, which is a scant rise in real terms, given continued increases in the prices of building materials and labour costs. However, the aggregate net profit posted by these companies improved clearly as it grew by almost PLN 0.5bn over the year. Notwithstanding that, net financial performance of the listed construction companies and profit margin figures they report still pale in comparison to results delivered by property developers and suppliers of building materials and construction equipment.

The volume of investments in Romania’s property sector exceeded €140 million in the first four months of 2021 due to a positive market sentiment, according to a report by real estate consultancy Crosspoint Real Estate. 

Globalworth has announced the acquisition of two industrial projects in western Romania for almost €18 million. The company took over Industrial Park West Arad and Industrial Park West Oradea, with a total area of 27,000 sqm that is fully leased. 

Belgian real estate developer Atenor says it struck a deal to sell its Bucharest-based office project Hermes Business Campus to Adventum International, a Malta-based boutique investment fund manager and its partners for an undisclosed sum.

Real estate developer Speedwell has concluded a partnership with Rovere Mobili that covers the residential projects The Ivy and Record Park in Bucharest.  

The 7R City Park Poznań complex will house the first European plant of the Ningbo Tuopu Group, a Chinese automotive company. Tuopu cooperates with global brands from the automotive sector, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Chrysler, Ford, Geely and General Motors. The Poznań factory, with an area of over 30 000 sqm, will produce components for electric cars. It will employ 450 people.

Close to 70,000 sqm of new retail space was delivered to the Polish market in Q1 2021, reveals Cushman & Wakefield. The new supply was dominated by small retail parks and standalone stores.

The pandemic has translated into a more cautious approach on the market along with lower office demand. Although office development in Poland is at its lowest level for eight years, regional markets are holding their ground with 800,000 sqm under construction. Advisory company JLL summarises Q1 2021 on the office market in Poland.

At the end of March 2021 the Dino network numbered 1,532 stores, up 298 versus March 2020. 59 new stores were opened in Q1 2021. The EBITDA margin in Q1 2021 was 8.8%, i.e. 0.2 percentage points above the corresponding period of 2020.

Panattoni is entering a new market. The company has announced the opening of an office in Hungary, headed by László Kemenes. He will be responsible for the development of speculative and big-box projects in Hungary, from the site acquisition and investment preparation, through to the commercialisation of the projects and their transfer to their eventual tenants. The developer already has two projects secured in the Budapest market.