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.

Belgian logistics developer WDP announced that it is buying several land plots near Bucharest and aims to develop a new logistics centre in Transylvania. The company is currently finalising the acquisition of new land positions in the Bucharest region in the amount of €10 million, WDP announced in an interim statement for Q1 2021.

Work has begun on the construction of Panattoni Park Wrocław West Gate, which will eventually have an area of around 47,000 sqm. The park’s first tenant will be Schumacher Packaging – a producer of cardboard packaging (including corrugated), which in September is to occupy 5,670 sqm.

Real estate developer Element Group has announced the acquisition of a new land plot of 2.7 hectares, close to A1 highway, at the entrance of Pitești city, in southern Romania. 

M7 Real Estate, on behalf of its M7 CEREF II Fund, acquired two urban logistics schemes from 7R. Avison Young represented the seller as the exclusive agent throughout the transaction.