More than 1 million sq m of Western Pomerania’s existing warehouse stock is dedicated to e-commerce operations, reveals a report from global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield Catching the Business Wave of Logistics and Warehousing in Western Pomerania. Its further growth in the region is expected to be driven by nearshoring, with new investment coming largely from Scandinavia and Germany.
E-commerce drives growth in warehouse space in Poland
The volume of warehouse space suited to e-commerce needs increased by as much as 84% between 2019 and 2022. This, in turn, transformed the perception of logistics and warehouses which finally began to be seen as an element of building a competitive advantage and as an added value rather than as a cost that should be minimized no matter what it takes,
says Damian Kołata, Head of Industrial & Logistics Agency Poland, Head of E-Commerce CEE, Cushman & Wakefield.
Within the European Union, Poland is only behind Germany, France and the Netherlands in terms of warehouse stock and, with 4.4 million sq m of new warehouse space delivered last year, it led the way in the EU for new supply. This has solidified Poland’s position as an international logistics and manufacturing hub,
adds Damian Kołata.
E-commerce companies seek secondary locations
Looking ahead, we anticipate that new secondary locations will be opening up. A good example is Western Pomerania, which is an ideal destination for logistics and warehouses which service not only the Polish market, but also Scandinavia and Western Europe,
says Paulina Machałowska, Associate, Industrial & Logistics Agency.
The investment potential of Western Pomerania is further enhanced by the availability of all modes of transport supporting the movement of goods between the south of Europe and the Baltic Sea countries. The region lies at an intersection of international road, sea and rail routes, with its good infrastructure providing direct access to the European network of motorways,
says Adrian Semaan, Senior Research Consultant, Industrial & Logistics Agency, Cushman & Wakefield.
All these competitive advantages translate into a growing number of projects breaking ground to support e-commerce
Western Pomerania already has more than one million square metres of warehouse space dedicated to e-commerce operations, accounting for 44% of its total warehouse stock. This proportion is one of the highest in Poland,
adds Paulina Machałowska.
According to last year’s survey from Cushman & Wakefield, one of the strongest trends impacting the Polish warehouse market will be the relocation of operations from Germany and Scandinavia to Poland, including, to a large extent, to Western Pomerania. Despite having a substantial warehouse stock, Western Pomerania remains a very attractive destination compared to Western European markets, also on account of its large labour pool, allowing to launch new projects relatively quickly,
concludes Damian Kołata.
About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 52,000 employees in approximately 400 offices and 60 countries. In 2022, the firm reported revenue of $10.1 billion across its core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. It also receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and more. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.