Romanian e-commerce player eMAG has secured a financing of around €70 million from Alpha Bank for the development of a logistics hub near Budapest. 

The boundary between online and offline shopping is becoming increasingly vague. There is an evident retail trade trend toward the omnichannel, i.e. combining various sales channels tailored to the consumer's individual needs. This requires the development of e-commerce which has significantly accelerated recently. In the last 5 years, the share of online sales in Central and Eastern Europe grew by 9 pps to 15%, and in 4 years' time is bound to amount to 20%, according to CBRE's forecasts. Poland and Czechia are leaders in terms of online shopping growth in the region. E-commerce's market share in these countries in 2026 may be as high as almost a quarter.

DHL Supply Chain has begun the construction of a logistics facility in Gorzów Wielkopolski with a planned total area of 110,000 sqm.

The rise of e-commerce and changing customer preferences have created a new phenomenon: Dark Stores; that is, online retailers delivering goods within 15 minutes of ordering. During the pandemic and the closure of brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce reached its peak. Some e-shops saw their sales grow by several tens of percents last year. In connection with this, demand for smaller, centrally located e-shop locations and warehouses with 150 to 500 sqm of space began to grow, especially in larger cities with sufficiently dense housing.

Classical shopping centres should adapt to the latest trends in retail to survive. That includes establishing strong ties between the digital and physical world and defining the tenant mix more accurately. Entertainment is also a must as these centres will have to become beloved community centres as well, says Márk Balástyai, Project Director of the recently opened Etele Plaza, built by Hungarian developer Futureal.

Due to the significant development of the e-commerce sector inquiries have risen rapidly for smaller units in city logistics centers in 15 CEE countries, Colliers International reports. 

Panattoni has leased out over 15,100 sqm to Chines e-commerce giant, JD International Logistics in its newly completed Panattoni Park Nadarzyn. The developer has also completed the process of the building’s certification in the BREAAM International New Construction system at the level “Excellent”. With a score of 78.4 percentage points the building has become the most ecological construction in Poland. The lease to JD.com was mediated by consultancy M4 Real Estate.

The entire development cost of logistics projects is increasing substantially and it will continue to do so, says Robert Dobrzycki, CEO & Co-Owner of Panattoni. He talked to Property Forum at MIPIM about uncertainties and the dynamic growth of the logistics sector in CEE.

Romanian e-commerce player eMAG is investing in a new warehouse spanning more than 100,000 sqm near Budapest, which is the company’s first development of this kind outside the country. 

Panattoni has begun constructing 8,700 sqm for InPost within the Central European Logistics Hub in Łódź. In 2021 alone, Panattoni completed logistics centres of nearly 100,000 sqm for InPost within eleven locations. Due to Panattoni’s completed projects both within city limits and on their borders, the end consumer receives quicker service including in small towns.