The REALOGIS Group, Germany’s leading consulting firm for industrial and logistics real estate as well as commercial properties, has registered take-up of 1,147,000 m² in the logistics and industrial real estate market of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in 2025 as a whole. This was the first time in two years that the 1 million square metre mark was exceeded. The evaluation is based on the market data of the REALOGIS Group for the sub-markets of Düsseldorf, Cologne and the Ruhr region.
Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to an increase of 203,900 m² or 22% (2024: 943,100 m²). The 5-year average of 1,072,546 m² was exceeded by 7%. The five largest deals were accounted for by Amazon (86,000 m²), FIEGE (55,000 m²), Goodcang (43,200 m²), Blitz Distribution (37,000 m²) and Winnet (36,000 m²).
Rents: No change, Düsseldorf remains the most expensive submarket
The most expensive market in North Rhine-Westphalia continues to be Düsseldorf. This applies to both prime and average rents. They were €8.25/m² and €7.00/m² respectively. For Cologne, €8.00/m² and €6.85/m respectively were registered, and for the Ruhr area, €7.75/m² and €6.50/m² respectively. All figures are unchanged compared to the full year 2024 and the 1st half of 2025.
Submarkets: Ruhr area grows, Düsseldorf and Cologne below previous year
The Ruhr region remained the sub-market with the highest take-up in 2025, accounting for 603,200 m². Düsseldorf reached 299,000 m², Cologne 244,800 m². In a year-on-year comparison, the Ruhr area grew by 75%, while Düsseldorf remained 6% and Cologne 12% below the previous year’s level.
Land types: Existing stock remains in the lead, brownfields gain significantly
Across North Rhine-Westphalia, 587,800 m², or 51% of take-up, was accounted for by existing space. New buildings on former brownfields reached 350,200 m² (31%), new buildings on greenfield sites 209,000 m² (18%).
User groups: Logistics/freight forwarding leads, trade remains strong
Logistics and freight forwarding accounted for 686,200 m² or 60% of take-up. Retail reached 261,200 m² (23%), of which 191,200 m² came from e-commerce. Industry and production accounted for 145,700 m² (13%), others for 53,900 m² (4%).
Size classes: Large contracts remain market-defining
Deals of 10,001 m² or more accounted for 893,000 m² or 78% of take-up. Areas between 5,001 m² and 10,000 m² came to 104,300 m², 3,001 m² to 5,000 m² to 72,000 m², 1,000 m² to 3,000 m² to 64,500 m². Very small areas of less than 1,000 m² reached 13,200 m².
