After the very successful years of 2021 and 2022, known as the golden period of development of the industrial market in Poland, 2023 was a period of greater challenges due to a change in the macroeconomic situation. The main reasons were high inflation, which affected the purchasing power of consumers, persistently high-interest rates, and uncertainty over the eastern border. The market grew, but at a slower pace, especially in the first half of the year, to accelerate at the end of 2023. Development activity in January-December 2023 amounted to 3.7 million sqm (-16% y/y), and as a result, the sector's total stock rose to 31.7 million sqm (+13% y/y). Another 2.8 million sqm (-16% y/y) remains under construction, about half of which is not under signed lease. Gross take-up (which does not include short-term leases) amounted to 5.6 million sqm, and despite a lower result versus 2021-2022, it was significantly higher than in the pre-pandemic period, i.e., 2018-2019, says Axi Immo. 

Around 38% of industrial rental demand came from Bucharest in 2023, down from 48% the previous year, according to Colliers data.

CTP is starting construction of its first manufacturing and logistics complex in the Podkarpackie region. In Rzeszów, it will build a complex of two facilities with a total leasable area of nearly 50,000 sqm. This will be the company's 16th investment in Poland and the first phase of the project is scheduled for completion in Q3 of this year. 

Industrial developer CTP has appointed Andrei Brînzea as Business Development Director in Romania as part of its growth strategy in the country.

Industrial developer Accolade published its year-end results for 2023. Despite lower construction activity across the market overall, Accolade’s total lease volume remained the same as 2022 thanks to renegotiations. Accolade either leased or extended the lease of existing agreements for 555,000 sqm worth of properties (of which 168,000 sqm is part of the fund’s portfolio). Furthermore, total rental income grew by 26% to €148 million (with nearly €100 million falling under the fund’s portfolio) over the course of last year. By expanding into Croatia, 2023 also saw Accolade further grow its operation through the addition of another European country.

Industrial developer CTP recorded a 20.1% gain of net rental income to €543.2 million in 2023 compared to the previous year over a combination of indexation and reversion on renegotiations and expiring leases.

The country's largest distribution facility was opened in 2022 and offers 143,000 sqm of industrial space on the outskirts of Budapest.

CTP has signed three key ten-year leases in its most sustainable industrial park near Prague, comprising more than 60% of a new 32,000 sqm building that will be delivered by the end of Q2 2024 at CTPark Prague North.

The expansion of Arete Park Dunajská Streda has received a building permit. It will offer an additional 13,000 sqm of modern space for storage, logistics or light manufacturing, within driving distance of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna.

The alliance aims to combine the decades of construction experience of the DVM Group and the extensive industrial general contracting experience of Greenfield Development. However, the new partnership does not represent a merger.