Vacancy rate in prime locations has risen by around 36 percent since 2023

IndustrialPort determines regional vacancy rates for warehouse, logistics and production properties for the first time – increase in prime locations from 5.5 percent in 2023 to 7.5 percent in 2025

Idstein, 18.09.2026 – The availability of space for warehouse, logistics and production properties in Germany has increased significantly in recent years.

The development is particularly evident in the IndustrialPort with an IndustrialScore of AAA. There, the vacancy rate rose from 5.5 percent in 2023 to 6.25 percent in 2024 to 7.5 percent in 2025. This means that the rate increased by 2.0 percentage points or around 36 percent within the three years under review.

The analysis also shows that the increase is not limited to individual markets. An increasing availability of space can also be observed outside the top locations. Sublet space and only partially vacant hall areas were not taken into account in the study.

The development comes at a time of economic challenges, especially in the transport and storage sectors as well as in parts of medium-sized production. In the past editions of the semi-annual According to the expert survey conducted by IndustrialPort "IndustrialObserver", the majority of brokers, asset managers, owners and real estate appraisers surveyed expected a further increase in vacancies. In the most recent survey in the second half of 2026, more than 80 percent of participants expected vacancies to continue to rise.

MARKETS WITH LESS THAN TWO PERCENT VACANCY RATES WILL BECOME THE EXCEPTION

The change is particularly evident in the distribution of regional vacancy rates.

In 2023, 19 of the 92 top locations considered still had a vacancy rate of less than two percent. This corresponded to around 21 percent of the markets surveyed.

In 2025, there were only five top locations, or around five percent.

At the same time, the number of stores with higher vacancy rates increased significantly. In 2023, the vacancy rate in 28 of the 92 top locations – around 30 percent – was at least six percent. In 2025, this already applied to 43 top locations or around 47 percent.

Double-digit vacancy rates are now also occurring much more frequently: in 2023, eight of the 92 top locations surveyed had a vacancy rate of at least ten percent. In 2025, there were already 19 regions. This means that a good one in five top locations surveyed now has a double-digit vacancy rate.

TOP LOCATION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN A SHORTAGE OF SPACE

The results show that a high quality of location is not automatically synonymous with low space availability.

The level of rents and real estate yields within the top locations also allows only limited conclusions to be drawn about the actual regional vacancy rate.

"The development shows that market conditions have also changed noticeably in the established logistics and industrial regions. A top location can continue to impress with a very good infrastructure, a strong economic basis and a high fundamental demand, while at the same time having a comparatively high availability of space. Location quality, rents, yields and vacancies should therefore be regarded as independent market indicators," says Peter Salostowitz, Managing Director of IndustrialPort.

VACANCY RATE REMAINS STRONGLY REGIONAL

Despite the overall increase, vacancy rates continue to differ considerably from region to region. In addition to economic developments, the respective economic structure and changes in individual industrial and production sites play an important role.

In regions that are particularly hard hit by production declines, relocations or plant closures, the available space supply could continue to increase in the future. The extent to which vacant land can be absorbed by new settlements or expansions of other companies depends, among other things, on economic development, the attractiveness of the location and the local framework conditions for investments and company settlements.

The The vacancy rates determined by IndustrialPort thus make it possible for the first time to compare the availability of space for warehouse, logistics and production properties, to analyse their development over time and to better assess the intrinsic value of the location for existing buildings and further settlements.

ABOUT INDUSTRIALPORT

Since 2012, IndustrialPort has been developing data-based analysis and valuation methods for industrial and logistics properties.

As a provider of market data and analysis for industrial and logistics real estate in Europe, IndustrialPort provides more than 1,000 customers with scientifically sound market information. The data and valuation methods are used, among other things, in real estate valuations as well as in the environment of banks, tax authorities and courts.


PRESS CONTACT

Peter Salostowitz

IndustrialPort Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG
Rodergasse 15
65510 Idstein

E-mail: info@industrialport.net
Website: www.industrialport.net
Phone: +49 (0)6126 9 79 00 02