While near-term conditions remain uncertain, a recession is becoming increasingly probable and Prologis has identified five areas that will shape market conditions. Current events have also led to the quick emergence of two new structural demand drivers, namely the need for more inventories as supply chains emphasize resilience over efficiency and the re-acceleration of e-commerce adoption.

Throughout the region, CTP is offering clients the opportunity to lease warehouse space for short terms. This measure comes in response to the concerns being raised by the COVID-19 situation regarding the stability of the retail supply chain.

Hillwood is developing two Class A city warehouses in Warsaw’s Targówek district with a total area of ​​almost 50,000 sqm. Completion of the first hall with an area of ​​24,600 sqm is scheduled for Q3 2020.

CTP further expanded its portfolio in Romania and in the vicinity of Bucharest where it owns three properties: CTPark Bucharest West, CTPark Bucharest and CTPark Bucharest Chitila. The most recent 57,000 sqm purchase, Equest Logistic Park, is located near the capital, on the A1, at km 13. It was acquired for approximately €30 million from Forum Serdika, in the beginning of March 2020.

Panattoni has started building a distribution centre for a manufacturer of sportswear and accessories. The BTS facility with an area of over 67 000 sqm is under construction in Czeladź, Upper Silesia. Completion of phase one is planned for H1 2021.

MLP Group has purchased a land property located in Widzew district in the Southeastern part of Łódź where it plans to construct MLP Łódź, an 80,000 sqm modern logistics and distribution centre.

Swiss Pillar Investments Europe SARL, part of the Swiss Reinsurance Company, has applied to the Polish competition authorities to acquire five warehouse facilities from AEW in Poland.

In our interconnected world, significant disruptions underscore the need for resilient supply chains. The risks posed by COVID-19 to economic growth would likewise affect real estate in the near term; on both counts, the magnitude is yet unknown. Still, structural trends point to resiliency for logistics real estate through this period and beyond, shaping both the fundamental and investment landscape, according to a new report by Prologis Research.

7R will build a modern logistics complex, 7R Park Łódź East I, on a newly purchased 20 ha plot located on Brzezińska Street. This is 7R's fifth investment in the city.

The pandemic declared last week by the WHO has undoubtedly a crippling effect on businesses and poses major challenges and unexpected obstacles to supply chain management. Nevertheless, as always in such crisis situations, there are also companies that come out unscathed of them, even in a better condition and with innovative solutions. Will the coronavirus be a black swan for the Polish market and will it further accelerate the fast-growing e-commerce sector? An analysis by Damian Kołata, Associate, Industrial & Logistics Agency at Cushman & Wakefield.