LACK OF MAJOR CONTRACTS LIMITS TAKE-UP
- With take-up of 106,000 m² by the end of the third quarter, the Cologne warehouse and logistics market remains 54 % below the previous year's result and 37 % below the ten-year average. Market activity to date has been dominated by smaller and medium-sized contracts, with the result that no deals have yet been concluded beyond the 12,000 m² mark. After a rather weaker first half of the year, however, take-up picked up noticeably in the third quarter.
- Uncertainties on the occupier side due to the weakening economy often mean that leasing processes take longer than in the previous year. Overall, however, demand continues to exceed supply. Particularly in central and well-connected locations, there is a shortage of large-scale properties of a quality and fit-out that are commensurate with the market.
- The rental price level has risen further year-on-year. By the end of the first half of the year, the prime rent had already risen to 7.50 €/m² and the average rent to 5.50 €/m².
RETAIL COMPANIES WITH HIGH SHARE
- The distribution of take-up by size category deviates significantly from the long-term average. While a ten-year average of around one-third of take-up is accounted for by large deals above 12,000 m², contracts to date have only been spread across the segments below this. The momentum in the smaller and mid-sized categories is certainly good. At 38 %, the largest share is generated by contracts between 8,000 and 12,000 m² and a further 30 % was generated by deals between 3,000 and 5,000 m².
- Contrary to the nationwide trend, the sector distribution is led by retail companies, which contributed 44 % of take-up and were also responsible for most of the deals. Logistics firms are involved with 35 %, and with a logistics firm in Bergheim (12,000 m²) accounting for the largest contract to date. Manufacturing companies are responsible for 16 %.
- The low share of new construction in take-up of 7 % underlines the fact that there is still too little space available to the market in this segment.