BNP Paribas Real Estate publishes market data for Q1 2026
Düsseldorf’s logistics market has made a good start to 2026 with take-up of 66,000 m². Although the logistics region of the NRW metropolis is not able to match the exceptionally high result from the first quarter of 2025 (-35%), it is still a remarkable 10% above the ten-year average. It is particularly noteworthy that this result was achieved without a deal beyond the 20,000 m² mark. The largest registered lease to date was signed by a logistics service provider in Mönchengladbach for 15,000 m². This is the result of the analysis by BNP Paribas Real Estate.
“Demand is quite dynamic, especially in the space segment up to 10,000 m², which is reflected in brisk letting activity and an overall high number of contracts. With a total of around 20 deals, this was as high as it was last in 2021. In the large-scale sector, on the other hand, the leasing processes are currently somewhat more protracted,” says Christopher Raabe, Managing Director and Head of Logistics & Industrial at BNP Paribas Real Estate GmbH.
After the prime rent for space of 5,000 m² or more had already risen by 2.4% to €8.70/m² in the previous year, it stabilised at this level in the first quarter. The average rent is also unchanged from the end of the year at €7.00/m², up 2.9% year-on-year.
Logistics service providers dominate earnings
The demand impulses from logistics service providers from the Asian region continue to play a decisive role in the distribution of sales among the sectors in Düsseldorf as well as generally in locations in North Rhine-Westphalia that are well connected to logistics: Overall, logistics companies in the Düsseldorf market accounted for almost 57% of the total result at the beginning of the year. In addition to rather small-scale contracts in the core area, two larger deals for 15,000 m² and 6,000 m² in Mönchengladbach were again at stake.
The industrial sector is currently in second place in the industry ranking (proportionally around 16%), with the completion of the production of dietary supplements Orthomol in a new construction project in Langenfeld over 8,400 m² being mentioned first and foremost. By contrast, the retail sector is still underrepresented at just over 11%. However, this interim result should not be overestimated, especially since many e-commerce companies have their business handled by logistics service providers. The analysis of take-up by size class shows a broad distribution of demand in the space categories up to 20,000 m². All segments make sales contributions of between just under 13% and almost 28%. While large-scale contracts for 20,000 m² accounted for around 64% of earnings in the same period last year, no deal has yet been registered in this category.
Prospects
The Düsseldorf logistics market started 2026 with an above-average result and was thus able to create a good starting position for the coming quarters. While large-scale sales drivers are still missing, the high number of deals in the smaller and medium-sized segment in particular can be seen as positive for the overall good market sentiment.
However, the economic environment remains challenging, and with the outbreak of the Iran war, geopolitical risk factors have increased once again. The impact on the economy from rising energy prices, rising inflation rates and changes in trade flows and supply chains depend crucially on the further course of this conflict. In the short term, a sideways movement can be expected in the development of supply. Although the leased space has contributed to a reduction in supply, the new developments coming onto the market as well as offers for subletting are roughly balancing the outflow and inflow of space.
“Prime rents are likely to maintain their already very high level for the time being, whereas the strong focus on demand for modern space could lead to a renewed increase in average rents,” explains Bastian Hafner, Head of Logistics & Industrial Advisory at BNP Paribas Real Estate GmbH.
