Higher disposable income across CEE markets are outpacing those in more mature Western European economies, with existing retail spaces trying to keep up with growing demand, according to a NEPI Rockcastle report.

Real estate group NEPI Rockcastle has recorded a net operating income of €365 million in the first nine months of 2023, up by 23% compared to the same period of last year. The result was boosted by improved tenant sales and the contribution of the acquisitions completed during 2022.

NEPI Rockcastle has officially opened its €136 million Promenada Craiova shopping centre in central southern Romania. 

NEPI Rockcastle, the biggest owner of shopping malls in Romania, has donated a boulevard to Craiova municipality. The road was completed following an investment of €10 million and will streamline traffic around the Promenada Craiova retail project, which will open on October 5. 

NEPI Rockcastle, the biggest owner of shopping centres in CEE, recorded a net operating income (NOI) of €241 million in H1 2023, up by 23% compared to the same period of last year over strong rental growth and leasing activity, alongside improved cost recovery

Four new retail projects with a combined leasable area of 30,000 sqm have been delivered in four smaller Romanian cities in the first half of 2023. Giurgiu, Călărași, Dej and Vaslui are the cities which benefited from these new investments, while the new supply will be significantly more substantial in the second half of the year, when almost 260,000 sqm of retail spaces are due to be completed, according to data from Cushman & Wakefield Echinox. 

Rüdiger Dany, CEO of NEPI Rockcastle, spoke with Property Forum about the strong recovery of retail markets in CEE after the pandemic, the development pipeline of retail and residential projects in Romania, and the group’s investments in ESG that are already translating into lower carbon emissions.

Property group NEPI Rockcastle has updated its green financing framework by introducing more stringent eligibility criteria for financing or refinancing the assets or expenditures classified as eligible green projects. 

Property group NEPI Rockcastle has obtained a BREEAM In-Use V6 Excellent certification for Ploiești Shopping City as part of its strategy to upgrade its operations to the highest ESG standards. 

NEPI Rockcastle, Europe’s third largest listed owner, developer, and manager of retail properties by portfolio market value at €6.6 billion, recorded a 27% rise in net operating income (NOI) in the first quarter of 2023 to €120 million compared to the same period of last year.