The development of the industrial and logistics market remains strong in 2021 in terms of leasing transactions and deliveries of new projects. Demand for new spaces across Romania is driven by automotive and retail players. 

Amphenol, a major producer of electronic and fibre optic connectors, cable and interconnect systems, is relocating its production plant within Ostrov in the Karlovy Vary Region. Panattoni Park Ostrov North was created by revitalizing the devastated site after the Škoda Pilsen trolleybus production plant, one of the largest brownfields in the Czech Republic.

Hungarian state-owned NIPÜF Group commenced the construction of a 10,000 sqm warehouse in its Tatabánya industrial park. The developer signed a lease agreement for one third of the building, and the remaining space awaits prospective tenants. The facility is to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022.

Ikea extended its lease contract at Segro Logistics Park Prague in the vicinity of the Václav Havel Airport. It will continue leasing the warehouse space totalling almost 12,500 sqm in the building it uses as a goods pick-up warehouse for its customers. The lease transaction was assisted by Cushman & Wakefield.

In Q1 2021, industrial take-up on the Czech market registered an increase of 147% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The Industrial Research Forum announced industrial market figures for Q1 2021.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has successfully subscribed to a €67 million ticket as part of an inaugural eight-year €600 million green bond issuance by VGP NV, a pan-European provider of logistics and semi-industrial real estate. EBRD’s investment will support the development of sustainable semi-industrial and logistics parks in Hungary, Latvia, Romania and the Slovak Republic.

The industrial and logistics market in Romania recorded leasing deals for around 200,000 sqm in the first quarter of 2021, a volume that is double compared to the same period of 2020, according to a report by real estate consultancy firm Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. 

Prologis has started a new speculative development at Prologis Park Budapest-Sziget II which is set to be delivered by the end of the year. A new 11,600 sqm warehouse building is now under development at the park, where 48,000 sqm of potential development space remains available.

According to the latest Savills research, at figures ranging between €4.60-5.30 per sqm per month, out of 54 markets analysed, Prague and the Polish cities of Katowice, Wrocław, TriCity and Poznań are among the ten cheapest locations for renting a modern warehouse globally. In Europe, Poznań (€4.68/sqm/month) is the most cost-effective location with only certain cities in India and Vietnam having lower overall warehousing property costs.

Total demand on Budapest’s industrial market amounted to 81,820 sqm in Q1 2021, indicating some 3% increase on the volume measured in the corresponding period of the previous year. Pre-leases dominated the demand with a share of 45%, according to the BRF’s quarterly report.