Rockwell Automation, a global manufacturer and supplier of industrial automation and IT solutions, has extended its lease of warehouse and office space in Katowice. In the process of negotiating the new contract terms, the company was represented by CBRE, while the owner of the building - Aviva Investors - was advised by experts from JLL.

European Logistics Investment BV (ELI) has acquired two warehouse facilities located in Wrocław. ELI, together with its partner Panattoni, plans to further develop the site in order to deliver City Logistics Wrocław North totalling 45,000 sqm of logistics space.

Businessman Dan Șucu has sold the logistics centre of furniture and decoration retailer Mobexpert, located near Bucharest, to developer CTP in a "sale-and-leaseback" transaction valued at about €14 million, profit.ro reports. Mobexpert will remain the long-term tenant of the building.

The Dutch investors that own the Eurocooling logistics centre in eastern Bucharest have applied for approval of a zoning plan for the development of a residential project, economica.net reports. The owners plan to build a residential complex with approximately 1,200 apartments.

Panattoni has begun the construction of a new 31,000 sqm industrial park on the site of the former Kavalier glassworks in Hostomice near Teplice in Central Bohemia.

Palmira Capital Partners, one of the leading sector specialists in European logistics and industrial properties, has launched the Palmira European Core Logistics Fund.

This year is likely to be the best for the Polish warehouse and industrial market, predicts Savills, with leasing activity already setting an all-time high in Q1-Q3 2020. Occupier take-up predominantly came from food retailers operating without any disruption despite restrictions imposed on other retail sectors and from e-commerce, including logistics operators serving e-retailers.

The scale and number of transactions in storage real estate in Central and Eastern Europe makes it one of the fastest-growing markets on the old continent. Investors generally are following the growing demand for warehouse space resulting, among other things, from the growing role of e-commerce. At the same time, the strategic location on many north-south and east-west international routes makes the CEE region of Europe a highly desirable destination for warehouse locations. It is one reason why this sector is the only real estate segment currently experiencing year-on-year growth.

The third quarter in Poland’s industrial sector saw a fairly positive sentiment among tenants and developers. At the end of September, the country was the second most active market in Europe in terms of net demand and the amount of space delivered. Warehouse investments in Poland were approximately €2.2 billion between January and November, setting an all-time annual record.JLL summarised the situation on the Polish industrial market at the end of Q3 2020.

While the first results show that the GDP grew by 5.2% q-o-q in Q3 in the Czech Republic, the second wave of COVID-19 has forced the government to re-impose strict containment measures to curb the spread of the virus. Retail sales grew during the summer as they reached pre-pandemic levels. However, consumer confidence fell for a second consecutive month in September, while a worsening labour market outlook and a resurgence of new infections will mean households keep more precautionary savings as well as denting income. On the other hand, industrial production resumed growth in September and is likely to underpin economic growth as it is less exposed to the pandemic. Cushman & Wakefield summarised the situation in each market segment.