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.

The Tei Group, which includes the Farmacia Tei network of pharmacies and Bebe Tei stores, leased approximately 10,000 sqm in the Metav industrial park in northern Bucharest, to build a semi-automatic warehouse, a transaction intermediated by Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

VGP announces the start of development of its new multitenant business park in Brașov, Central Romania. With the groundworks started beginning of November, the first building with a surface of 9,400 sqm is planned to be delivered mid-2021 and will be partly occupied by pharmaceutical company Fildas Trading Srl. VGP Park Brașov is being developed on a land plot of approx. 390,000 sqm and will have a total potential of about 180,000 sqm lettable area.

Wrocław Business Park has been acquired by Panattoni from Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc. The seller was represented by the Avison Young investment team throughout the transaction.

Panattoni is developing another modern and ecologically sustainable cross-docking terminal for DB Schenker. The 6,000 sqm centre is to be built within the Rzeszów-Dworzysko Science and Technology Park. It will be equipped with a range of solutions to protect the environment as well as intelligent systems to optimise logistic operations. The developer is to hand the centre over in January 2021 and the development has already been accredited as an innovative centre by the Rzeszów Regional Development Agency.

Global logistics company Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is strengthening its position in the Czech Republic. At one of the largest industrial parks in the country, CTPark Bor, the company is expanding its total warehouse space. Besides the existing 20,000 sqm site that Hellmann currently operates, an additional area of almost 12,000 sqm will be added by the end of the year. Hellmann uses the CTPark Bor for worldwide distribution but with a strong focus on the German market.