Tailwinds for European logistics bolster investment opportunities
In an exclusive interview at EXPO Real 2025, Sally Bruer, head of EMEA logistics & industrial and retail research at Cushman & Wakefield, said Europe’s logistics and manufacturing sectors are poised for renewed investment and development momentum despite near-term economic uncertainty.
“We all agree that there is a lot of uncertainty in the market, particularly around businesses and their ability to be able to make choices and decisions in this challenging environment,” she said. “But we see in the mid-term lots of tailwinds which are coming forward for European logistics and manufacturing which are set to bolster the opportunities for investors and developers.”
Bruer pointed to the return of long-term, conviction-driven capital targeting logistics and industrial assets. “We’re seeing a re-emergence of capital types coming back to the market, particularly core capital,” she said. “We’re seeing a selective approach to investment but certainly lots of capital having conviction in the sector and of the long-term opportunities within logistics and industrial real estate.”
She emphasised that demand for efficient and sustainable space remains consistent across Europe’s diverse occupier base. “Each business will be different but there are lots of opportunities across different types of sector, across different types of assets,” she said. “No matter what, there will always be a requirement to move product, and it’s having the right real estate to be able to capture those opportunities — efficient space, sustainable space, space that allows for flexibility.”
Bruer added that collaboration between investors, developers and occupiers will be essential to capture growth while managing risk. “There are some challenges for investors and developers to be able to capture some of those opportunities,” she said. “It’s working carefully and closely with occupiers in order to be able to find the right real-estate solutions, mitigate risks, but also importantly seize the opportunities.”
www.realassetinsight.com
www.realassetmedia.com
