South African developer Fortress REIT is close to entering the Romanian logistics market by acquiring the logistic park in Chitila, owned by Element Industrial and Dedeman, according to Ziarul Financiar, which cites market sources.

European logistics real estate markets have not suffered last year from the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to fast-growing e-commerce and higher inventory levels of producers, the total expected take-up in 11 European countries of 23.6 million sqm for 2020 is only 3% down compared with the record year 2019. The forecasts for this year are even better with an expected take-up of 27 million sqm – an increase of 14%. Particularly large logistics real estate markets like Germany, France, the Netherlands and Poland are expected to grow substantially.

Amazon continues to invest in Poland and will create over 1,000 new permanent jobs in Swiebodzin within a year of opening. Its tenth facility in Poland will include advanced Amazon Robotics technology, with 3,000 robotic drive units supporting the company’s associates.

Carrefour Romania renewed its leasing contract with P3 for approximately 85,000 sqm in P3 Bucharest A1, making it one of the largest deals on the local logistics market. CBRE Romania assisted P3 in this deal. 

Polish logistics company Uniq Logistic has become a tenant at another MLP Group park. The company will take up a total of over 17,000 sqm of space and will operate from two key locations in Pruszków and Łódź starting from the second quarter of 2021. Axi Immo supported the Group in the transaction.

Panattoni has bought an 8.2-hectare site in the Annopol neighbourhood of Warsaw to develop City Logistics Warsaw IV, featuring approx. 40,000 sqm. The facility’s location, next to the S8 route, will ensure efficient domestic and international transport. There will also be a tram terminal in the direct vicinity of the building. City Logistics Warsaw IV is the sixth project of this formula in Warsaw.

The developers of logistics and industrial spaces maintained their investment plans and delivered 600,000 sqm of new warehouses last year, according to JLL Romania data. Most of them were delivered in Bucharest and the surrounding area, with 80% of the total.

Long-term owner and warehouse developer P3 has signed a lease agreement with HOPI for approximately 33,910 sqm of warehouse and office space in the P3 Mszczonów park. The new building will serve as HOPI's central warehouse and HQ in Poland.

The industrial market demonstrated resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic. E-commerce remained the key growth driver for the market throughout 2020. Experts of global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield have summarised 2020.

Macromex, the leader in the temperature-controlled products segment, is building its second warehouse in Chitila, near Bucharest. The investment amounts to €15 million and will be financed from own sources, but also from a loan from Alpha Bank Romania, the company announced.