BNP Paribas Real Estate publishes data on the logistics market Q2 2026
The Ruhr logistics market reports an excellent interim balance at mid-2026. With take-up of 280,000 m², both the previous year’s volume (201,000 m²) and the ten-year average (228,000 m²) were clearly exceeded by an impressive 39% and 23% respectively. The consistently high level of sales in the individual periods of the year is particularly pleasing: the polycentric logistics region has achieved above-average quarterly results since Q2 2025. This is the result of the analysis by BNP Paribas Real Estate.
The volume is broadly distributed not only over the individual quarters, but also across the various sub-locations. In this context, the eastern Ruhr region accounted for extensive earnings contributions in the first half of 2026 with the major deal of the pharmaceutical logistics service provider Cencora (33,700 m²) in Dortmund and the deals of FlexiSpot (20,500 m²) and Blitz Distribution (17,400 m²) in Werne. However, the western market area also recorded strong demand impulses, for which the contracts of Goodcang (29,000 m²) and Siemens Mobility (20,000 m²) in Duisburg are responsible in particular. Several smaller and medium-sized deals can also be found in central locations, such as Gelsenkirchen or Essen, which also account for a decisive share of the overall very diversified letting activity.
“After increases last year, rents have been stable in the past six months and have confirmed their already high level. At the peak, premium properties currently cost up to €8.00/m² and an average of €6.70/m²,” explains Christopher Raabe, Managing Director and Head of Logistics & Industrial at BNP Paribas Real Estate GmbH.
Logistics company clearly dominates the market with record turnover
A look at the size classes impressively illustrates that the high market dynamics in the Ruhr region currently extend across almost all segments: With the exception of large contracts of 20,000 m² or more, all categories exceeded their ten-year average volumes by far by mid-year.
In terms of the distribution of turnover among the user groups, the logistics service providers in the Ruhr region are following the nationwide trend and clearly stand out in an industry comparison: with a letting volume of around 183,000 m², they achieved record take-up in the first half of the year and accounted for a good 65% of market activity. It is noteworthy that they have not only appeared through very large contracts such as those of Cencora, Goodcang or Blitz Distribution, but have also contributed a total of 59% of all deals.
With a share of just over 13%, however, the retail division remains significantly underrepresented in the middle of the year. However, if you consider that the business model of the currently very active logistics service providers is often closely interlinked with the distribution processes of globally active e-commerce companies, the result is put into perspective. In addition to the conclusion of the FlexiSpot office solutions dealer in Werne (20,500 m²), only a few smaller and medium-sized contracts are still in the retail segment. The situation is similar in the industrial sector, which accounts for a further 13%. Here, too, only a few deals were registered, but this also included Siemens Mobility in the Logport in Duisburg-Rheinhausen (20,000 m²).
Prospects
Be it in a long-term or location comparison – the logistics market in the Ruhr region performed impressively in many respects in the first half of 2026. Thus, an average take-up in the coming months would be sufficient to present a higher result at the end of September than in the previous year. From today’s perspective, demand is likely to remain consistently high, especially from users from the e-commerce sector and the Asian region. The challenge is primarily to map the usually large-scale and often short-term requests of these actors. It is therefore all the more pleasing that the new-build segment in the Ruhr region is able to provide a remedy again and again: with a volume of over 100,000 m² of total take-up, the logistics region also achieves the top position nationwide in the new-build sector (36% share).
Meanwhile, no significant changes are expected in the supply situation: While some available space in existing properties has been let out, expiring leases, sublet space and new developments coming onto the market are largely causing sideways movements in the supply of space.
“The development of prime rents must be viewed in a differentiated way: Even if more and more contracts are being concluded in the range of or even above the prime rent of €8.00/m², these are in many cases associated with extensive incentive packages. This means that at most minor adjustments can be expected for the coming months,” says Bastian Hafner, Head of Logistics & Industrial Advisory at BNP Paribas Real Estate GmbH.
