According to the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which measures the activity level of purchasing managers in a given sector, Hungary's manufacturing industry was hit much harder by the coronavirus crisis than the same sector in other CEE countries. The Polish and Czech PMI show that these economies were less affected by the downturn in March than the economy of Hungary.

As the global pandemic progresses across borders and within countries, Cushman & Wakefield’s EMEA market research experts shared what they are seeing on the ground in their countries.

Polish residential developer Marvipol Development started cooperation with the Autenti platform which allows clients to sign contracts leaving their homes.

Panattoni developer has leased approx. 13,400 sqm to VS Transport at Panattoni Park Wrocław VII. The tenant will be moving into the complex this April, and the developer is announcing the construction of a further 38,000 sqm at the same location.

Throughout the first quarter of 2020, the total transaction volume on the commercial real estate market in Poland exceeded €2.4 billion, according to preliminary results by Avison Young. This volume is almost three times as high as compared to the corresponding period of 2019, however, in line with Avison Young forecasts from December last year. Robust investment activity has been mainly noted in the industrial and office sectors. Asian investors dominated investment volume in terms of capital origin, with a particular focus on the industrial sector. At the same time, a growing investment activity of CEE investors is continuously observed, especially on the office market.

March was the twelfth consecutive month to see decreases in confidence in the construction sector. The seasonally-adjusted confidence index dipped into negative territory, and it plunged to a three-year low. Since the March survey does not reflect a completely new economic reality, it is expected that construction confidence will fall dramatically in April.

CPI Property Group has taken over the property management of the Eurocentrum office building which it acquired in November 2019.  

Savills Investment Management has completed the acquisition of the logistics unit leased to Leroy Merlin in Piątek from Invesco Real Estate, the global real estate investment manager, on behalf of Korean institutional investors managed by Vestas Investment Management.

Panattoni has leased out 35,000 sqm at Panattoni Park Gliwice III. As a result, another Panattoni distribution centre is now fully commercialised. The tenant will move into the park before the end of April and will use it for e-commerce order fulfilment.

CBRE has leased 4,000 sqm at Warsaw Unit, which is currently under construction by Ghelamco near the Rondo Daszyńskiego. The 202-meter building will offer 57,000 sqm of office space on 45 floors as well as a multi-story garage for 450 vehicles and infrastructure for cyclists, including bike parking, locker rooms and showers. Completion is scheduled for 2021.