Manufacturing is gaining ground in Romania's industrial and logistics market, with approximately 28% of publicly announced leasing transactions in the first half of 2026 involving manufacturing space, almost double the previous year's share and well above the typical 10-15% range, according to Colliers. Around two-thirds of demand came from new leases or relocations. Overall, publicly announced transactions reached approximately 340,000 sqm, around 20% below the level recorded in the first half of last year, but 47% above the average for the same period in 2017-2019.

Across CEE, the strongest investment stories are often found in markets that remain relatively small. Before Warsaw became one of Europe's largest logistics hubs or western Romania emerged as a manufacturing powerhouse, both were characterised by the same combination of improving infrastructure, competitive costs and limited modern stock. Today, a similar conversation is beginning to take shape around Iași.

Slovakia's industrial and logistics property market continued to grow in the second quarter of 2026, with total leasing activity reaching approximately 131,000 sqm, a 23% year-on-year increase, according to a quarterly analysis by CBRE Slovakia. Net leasing activity, which excludes renewals and short-term leases, also rose 13% year-on-year to approximately 67,000 sqm.

The Czech industrial and logistics real estate market remains stable despite global economic uncertainty, according to an analysis by Colliers. Total modern industrial and logistics space in the Czech Republic reached 13.7 million sqm in the second quarter of 2026, with gross take-up of approximately 460,000 sqm, close to the five-year average. The average vacancy rate rose gradually to 5.5%, while rents remained stable in most regions.

The Polish Chamber of Commercial Real Estate (PINK) has published figures on the Polish warehouse and industrial market for Q2 2026. The data is sourced from advisory firms active in the commercial real estate sector, including Axi Immo, BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland, CBRE, Colliers, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Knight Frank, Newmark Polska and Savills, and covers modern warehouse stock, new completions, space under construction, take-up and vacancy levels.

Romania's industrial and logistics market maintained positive momentum in the first half of 2026, with leasing activity accelerating in Q2 despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, according to the Romania Marketbeat Industrial Q2 2026 report published by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. Total modern stock reached 8.14 million sqm at the end of June, with approximately 4 million sqm located in Bucharest and its surrounding area, while the nationwide under-construction pipeline stood at 532,000 sqm.

CTP has signed two long-term leases totalling approximately 16,700 sqm at CTPark Sofia Ring Road in Bulgaria with existing customers BOX NOW and Amperel. The agreements were completed in June 2026 and form part of a strong first half for CTP in the country, with leasing activity across its Bulgarian portfolio increasing by 43% year-on-year during H1 2026. Year-to-date leasing volumes are 56.4% higher than the same period last year.

The Budapest Research Forum (BRF), comprising 108 Hungary Real Estate, CBRE, Colliers, Cushman & Wakefield, ESTON International, iO Partners and Robertson Hungary, has published its Q2 2026 industrial market snapshot for Hungary.

Poland's property investment market recorded €3 billion in total volume across 66 transactions in H1 2026, up 77% year-on-year and matching the highest levels seen in the country over the past decade. Every sector recorded deals exceeding €100 million, with the single largest transaction — €575 million — completed in the private rented sector (PRS). Core investors are returning to prime assets, pushing average ticket sizes up while overall liquidity remains lower than in H1 2025.

Developer GRIDARCH has completed the third phase of construction at Ostrava Airport Multimodal Park (#OAMP) in Mošnov. Three new industrial halls with a total leasable area of 124,000 sqm will serve as BMW Group's overseas logistics distribution centre, with DP World appointed to manage logistics operations. Pilot operations are now under way, with the centre expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026.