Slovakia’s commercial real estate market is expected to reach an all-time high in its investment activity this year, according to a market research conducted by Colliers International.
Following a record investment performance in 2016, the number of transactions closed in H1 2017 has fallen. Despite the trend, experts are forecasting that the sum of investment transactions at the end of 2017 will be much higher than the long-term average of €290m per annum between 2009 and 2015. The estimate is based on the expected number of transactions at the end of the year, favourable macroeconomic conditions and availability of competitively priced quality stock.
Most of the 2017 transactions were attributed to the sector of industrial and logistic buildings followed by offices. The largest investment transaction in the first quarter of 2017 involved the sale of Lozorno logistics park with the total area of 118,000 sqm. The transaction took place between CPI property group and White Star Institutional investor, whose market share in Slovak industrial Class A thus increased to 6 %.
“Slovakia’s commercial real estate market remains attractive for both local and institutional investors despite the fact that the supply does not reach the levels of the neighbouring markets,” says Ermanno Boeris, Managing Director at Colliers International Slovakia.
Office real estate market
In H1 2017 the total stock of office buildings for rent increased by approximately 69,000 sqm with the completion of Phase I of the project Blumental, blocks B and CA of Zuckermandel, the building UNIQ at Staromestská ulica in Bratislava, and Panorama Busniess Center II. As a result, the vacancy rate of office buildings in H1 2017 fell to 6.77 %.
The total stock of modern office buildings in Bratislava exceeded 1.7 million sqm. H2 2017 is expected to bring another 40,000 sqm of office space. There are currently approximately 234,000 sqm of office premises under active construction.
The majority of this segment’s transactions were pre-leases. The office real estate market in Bratislava is dominated by professional services, IT, pharmaceutical and medical sector.
Industrial real estate market
The development of Slovakia’s industrial and logistic real estate is positive. The majority of industrial and logistic spaces are still concentrated in the capital of Bratislava and the western part of the country. There are several projects planned for Eastern Slovakia as well. Speculative development aims at the regions of Senec, Nové Mesto nad Váhom and Žilina.
The market remains favourable for developers, since the high degree of competition is pushing rents down despite the low vacancy rate fluctuating around 2.2 %.
Retail real estate market
The retail real estate market continues to be one of the most attractive sectors. The retail stock demand is driven by the growing GDP, historically low levels of unemployment and rising real wages.
In H1 2017 the total retail stock in Slovakia amounted to around 1.66 million sqm. Traditional shopping centres made up 71 % of the total stock whereas 29 % were represented by specialized shopping centres (retail parks and big box retail). More than 180,000 sqm of retail area are under active construction, which will manifest in a higher number of shopping centres in the foreseeable future.
Retail space (sqm) / 1000 inhabitants. Source: Colliers International
Despite the fact that Bratislava is the most saturated with retail areas, even more than the average of major European cities, more projects will appear in the next few years. These include an extension of the shopping centres Eurovea and Aupark as well as a new building of the Mlynské Nivy bus station. A retail park in the new residential area Slnečnice is also under construction.
International luxury brand Rituals is joining the IULIUS retail network. This autumn, it will open new stores in the mixed-use developments Iulius Town Timișoara and Palas Iași, as well as in Iulius Mall Cluj.
Stay Fit Gym has leased approximately 1,000 sqm for a new fitness centre, which will open in the Family Market Tomești retail park, developed by Iulius in the Iași region.
Agricola Group, one of Romania's largest producers of chicken, cured meats, and ready-meal products, has signed a lease agreement for 5,400 sqm in ELI Park Bacău, within the ELI Parks portfolio.
New appointments
Cushman & Wakefield Echinox has named Gabriel Vințe as Business Development Manager within the Project & Development Services (PDS) department. He will also oversee the business line dedicated to sustainability services. Vințe has over 21 years of experience gained in renowned companies across sectors such as financial services, retail, residential, and consultancy.
Cushman & Wakefield has strengthened its Warsaw-based Capital Markets team, led by Paweł Partyka, with the appointments of Jakub Grabara and Natalia Wołyniec. The new hires will support the company in delivering transactional advisory services across the commercial property market.
At the beginning of September, Ewa Ciołek and Piotr Meleszko were promoted to Senior Leasing Manager. MLP Group, recognising the internal competencies and achievements of its team, emphasises the importance of further improving the efficiency of its leasing operations, which are key to the company's dynamic growth.
The American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic has announced that Pavel Sovička, CEO of the development company Panattoni for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, has become its new president.
Panattoni has purchased a 13-hectare plot on behalf of investor Jet Investment and is launching a new development in the Podkarpacie region. The first phase of Panattoni Park Rzeszów North II will include two buildings totaling over 42,000 sqm, with three tenants already signed. The complex will ultimately exceed 110,000 sqm.
Poland's property investment market demonstrated stability in the first three quarters of 2025, with total transaction volume reaching €2.6 billion across 105 deals, closely matching 2024 results. Polish capital gained momentum, representing 23% of total investment volume compared to 10% in the same period last year, capitalising on pricing opportunities while core capital remained cautious with only two transactions exceeding €100 million, Avison Young reports.
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