2020 was a landmark year for the warehouse industry, which in the face of the global pandemic turned out to be one of the strongest branches of the Polish economy. Summaries for last year show that Poland was the number two European market (after Germany) for commissioning warehouse space, as well as number three on the continent for leased space. 7R, the only Polish industrial and warehouse developer to be in the Polish sector’s top three, summarizes its results for 2020.

Two new industrial buildings with a total area of 38,000 sqm are planned to be built in Bialystok. With a total investment of more than €33 million Accolade continues to develop its portfolio in Eastern Poland. The first tenant of the Class A warehouse will be InPost, a Polish-based complex logistics operator. Building A, which will be built during the first phase of the project, will be handed over to the tenant in September.

Investors and developers from all over the world are in a race for a slice of Poland's rapidly-developing warehouse market cake. Property Forum takes a look at the new and expanding players that have made headlines in recent months.

Part of the Glamox Group, ES-SYSTEM, a producer and supplier of professional lighting systems, has decided to let nearly 11,500 sqm of modern warehouse and office space in the 7R Park Poznań East logistics centre. The tenant was represented in the negotiation process by AXI IMMO consultants.  

The Jumbo toy retailer invests €35 million in its first warehouse in Romania, Profit.ro announced.

Panattoni is to deliver a dedicated facility for TJX Europe - the owner of the TK Maxx brand and a leading off-price clothing and homeware retailer. The 61,135 sqm distribution centre will be located in Sulechów, Western Poland. This facility will help to supply products to TK Maxx shops in Poland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Real estate advisory firm Cresa represented TJX Europe in the transaction.

The growing maturity of the Polish industrial real estate sector is directing investor attention towards urban logistics properties. According to data from JLL and SEGRO, available investment land and the possibility to extend existing parks in the eight largest agglomerations allow for the development of up to 4 million sqm which could meet the increase in demand.

Panattoni has launched the construction of Panattoni Park Zgorzelec, which will comprise ​​approx. 70,000 sqm. This is the developer’s latest 3 PL investment near the Polish-German border. The first tenant has already been secured for the park – ID Logistics, which will occupy 44,500 sqm for its e-commerce operations. Panattoni has also announced that the project will be BREEAM certified at the ‘Excellent’ level.

South African investor Fortress REIT has acquired two logistics parks in Bydgoszcz and Stargard from Griffin Property Finance. This is the first direct acquisition in Poland by Fortress REIT and the value of the transaction has not been disclosed.

Panattoni is to provide space for the production of Paczkomat® parcel lockers for InPost and is also to construct an R&D centre for the company. The Paczkomat® factory is being built as part of the newly established City Logistics Kraków Airport park. It will take up 7,230 sqm and will be fitted with solar panels.