The industrial real estate market in Hungary hit the vacancy rate of 5.5% in the first half of 2017, which is the lowest number on record since it has been measured by the Budapest Research Forum (BRF). In total, less than 73,000 sqm space is currently vacant in the Budapest metropolitan area of the 1.95 million sqm total modern logistics area, and only four Class A buildings can offer more than 5,000 sqm contiguous warehouse space. The lack of available space is due to the strong absorption of the last few years, and at the same time there are still limited number of speculative projects in progress or have building permits, says Tamás Beck, Director of Industrial Agency at Colliers International Hungary.

Panattoni Europe commenced the construction of a large-scale logistics centre for BSH Sprzęt Gospodarstwa Domowego. The BTS (built-to-suit) facility with 79,000 sqm and its own railway siding will be delivered in Łódź. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 30 May, and construction works are scheduled for completion in spring 2018.

Helaba and pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank, acting as co-arrangers, are providing a €177 million facility to developer and investor CTP for the refinancing of CTPark Bor, one of the Czech Republic's largest logistic parks. The loan is being financed in a club deal, with each partner providing 50% of the facility and Helaba acting as agent. The transaction closed in April 2017 and has a term of seven years. 

Net take-up on the Czech industrial market in Q1 2017 totalled 238,800 sqm, representing a yearly increase of 13%. The vacancy rate reached 4.7%, having decreased marginally by 4 bps since Q4 2016. The Industrial Research Forum announced the final Industrial Market figures for Q1 2017. 

Prologis announced the completion of a 42,170 square metre build-to-suit (BTS) facility for long-term customer Agata at Prologis Park Piotrków II. 

P3 has started the construction of a new warehouse at P3 Bucharest Park. The 13,900 sqm logistics facility will include 400 sqm of offices. P3 is already in advanced discussions with a potential customer interested in leasing the whole building.

In Q1 2017, industrial space totalling 162,400 sqm was completed within 10 industrial parks across the Czech Republic, bringing the total stock of modern industrial and logistics space to 6.47 million sqm. The Industrial Research Forum announced its preliminary industrial market figures for Q1 2017.

Logistic company Geis has leased 5,600 sqm of a brand new logistic centre in the Řehlovice Industrial Zone. The premises were developed by Czech real estate company Real Spektrum in a built-to-suit project. During this February and March, fit-out of the premises was carried out according to the specifications of Geis, and the new logistics hub started operation at the beginning of April. The tenant was represented by JLL during the transaction.

CTP Invest has signed a lease agreement with MAKRO Cash & Carry ČR, for approx. 53,000 sqm of warehouse and office space at CTPark Prague North. The transaction ranks among the biggest deals recently concluded on the Czech industrial market. Total investment by CTP is planned to reach approximately €35 million.

Colliers International and Advisory Group TEST Human Resources have presented their analysis of the industrial market in Poland. The report presents the state of the industrial market in 9 locations: three Warsaw zones, Upper Silesia, Central Poland, Poznań, Wrocław, Tricity, Kraków, Bydgoszcz and Toruń and Szczecin.