In our interconnected world, significant disruptions underscore the need for resilient supply chains. The risks posed by COVID-19 to economic growth would likewise affect real estate in the near term; on both counts, the magnitude is yet unknown. Still, structural trends point to resiliency for logistics real estate through this period and beyond, shaping both the fundamental and investment landscape, according to a new report by Prologis Research.

7R will build a modern logistics complex, 7R Park Łódź East I, on a newly purchased 20 ha plot located on Brzezińska Street. This is 7R's fifth investment in the city.

The COVID-19 pandemic initially disrupted supply chains with China and these are now gradually being restored.  However, the epicentre of the pandemic has shifted to Europe, which has brought challenges for producers and distributors. The logistics sector is striving to maintain liquidity. All truck drivers – regardless of nationality – are exempt from the 14-day quarantine required on entry to Poland. Similar exemptions have been introduced by other EU member states. Fast-track lanes have been created for freight trucks across the EU. It’s all in an attempt to minimalize supply chain disruptions, Axi Immo writes in its report.

The global impact of the coronavirus outbreak is currently the main concern of everyone in the logistics sector. In response, real estate consulting firm Colliers International decided to conduct a flash poll asking industry participants (primarily transport/logistics companies, retailers, manufacturing companies, property developers, investors) in Germany about their perspective.

CTP plans to develop a new logistics park in Stefanestii de Jos near Bucharest, on a 19 ha plot of about 19 hectares that it acquired last year from Willbrook for €6 million, profit.ro reports. Construction is set to begin this spring.

Sapient Vest, a company controlled by Slovakia’s Slovunit AS, is planning to develop a logistics park in Timișoara. Sagului Logistic Center will spread over 400,000 sqm on Calea Sagului, economica.net reports.

The Arete investment and real estate group announced the opening of its third qualified investor fund, based in the Czech Republic and operating under the supervision of the Czech National Bank. This third fund is to follow on from the successful history of the preceding funds, with the first fund having been closed three years ago and investors paid off with a total gross appreciation of 120%, while the second fund has fulfilled its strategy with its current gross appreciation of over 90%. The new Arete fund will both invest into completed industrial real estate in Central and Eastern Europe and also itself construct new logistics and manufacturing buildings. Its portfolio target value should approach €500 million during the anticipated six-year investment cycle.

The maturity of the industrial real estate sector in Poland’s five largest markets does not necessarily mean limited investment opportunities for developers and tenants. The importance of smaller markets has been growing recently in Poland, which gives the possibility to expand into locations that were previously out of developers’ and tenants’ interests, according to JLL.

Panattoni has delivered its first Class A warehouse in Żory, Silesia. Nearly half out of the initial 36,500 sqm has already been leased out to first tenants. This February, cargo-partner spedycja sp. z o.o. is moving into the facility, to be followed by Piast Cargo and a tenant from the food industry in March. At full build-out, Panattoni Park Żory will total 84,000 sqm. The project is under construction in a strategic location in Southern Poland, close to the Czech border.

In reaction to increasing demand, CTP has announced the start of the construction of new areas in Trnava and entry into a completely new location, the city of Prešov.