As the manufacturing sector begins to reopen around the world, new trends are emerging in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research by Cushman & Wakefield.

The Czech Republic came within the top ten countries around the world again this year in Cushman & Wakefield’s annual ranking based on the criteria such as operating costs including labour and the rate of economic and political risk. The country has regularly ranked among the best destination for manufacturers seeking to locate their operations since 2016 when it was included in the chart for the first time. The ability to bounce back after the coronavirus crisis was rated for the first time this year and the Czech Republic succeeded in this respect as well.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €125 million loan with Umicore, a Belgian-based global materials technology and recycling group, to finance part of the greenfield production facility for cathode materials in Nysa, Southwestern Poland. The cathode materials will be supplied to battery manufacturers of high-tech lithium-ion batteries that are primarily used in electric vehicles. 

Panattoni is launching the construction of close to 15,000 sqm for Phoenix Contact E-Mobility. The BTS facility will be delivered at the Rzeszów-Dworzysko Science and Technology Park, which will promote the tenant’s collaboration with research centres and ensure good access to qualified staff. The building will be commissioned in late 2020/early 2021 and will offer space for 330 employees.

Reduced output in March & May in the automotive sector could change the typical activity curve in 2020, with busier summer months ahead to make up for lost time. Colliers International has just launched its recent research piece in which e it discusses the importance of particular months for the manufacturing sector in the EMEA region as well as presents the outlook for the coming months.

Panattoni will build a dedicated facility for Weber, US manufacturer of grills and accessories. The 50,000-square-metre BTS (built-to-suit) facility will be developed in Zabrze and the tenant will move into in August 2021.

As part of the fight against the coronavirus, many firms have decided to temporarily cease their production to ensure the health of their employees.

According to a new report by Panattoni and CBRE, the attitude towards the future in the logistics, production and trade industries changed slightly compared to last year. The Optimism Level Index in Logistics and Supply Chain in Poland for 2019-2020 was determined at an average level of 49 points, which is lower than the result obtained last year (57.4). Logistics companies are again more positive about the future (53.9 points) than production and trade enterprises using logistics services (44 points). Despite this change in mood, as many as 7 out of 10 institutions assess the costs of supply chain operations in Poland as lower than the EU average, and 6 out of 10 believe that Poland is competitive as a place of investment - both statistics have increased since last year.

CTP is building a new turbine factory for BMTS at CTPark Novi Sad which will be handed over in April 2020. A considerable part of the facility will be equipped with all the necessary features for R&D activities.

Eastern Poland continues to attract increasing interest from both Polish and overseas investors. Its cities, including Lublin, Białystok and Suwałki, are gaining favour with logistics and manufacturing firms planning to expand, according to Kamil Żach, Land Specialist, Industrial and Logistics Agency at Cushman & Wakefield.