Bremen as a logistics location holds its own in a challenging market environment

The market for logistics and industrial space (letting, sale and new construction by owner-occupiers) in Bremen and the immediate surrounding area closed 2025 with take-up of 260,000 m². This corresponds to an increase of around 16 percent compared to the previous year – due to a high number of lease agreements and a generally high level of market activity. "In 2025, significantly more space was absorbed than new supply came onto the market. As a result, the vacancy rate has fallen further," reports Björn Sundermann, Managing Director of Robert C. Spies Industrial Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG. The result is just below the five-year average of around 272,000 m², but can be seen as very positive in view of the current market environment.

With a dominant share of around 49 percent of total take-up, companies from the retail logistics sector represent the largest group of buyers. Among other things, two major deals in this segment contributed to this: BlackForxx, the specialist for used forklift trucks and warehouse equipment, has leased a new construction project with around 55,000 m² in Bremen's industrial port – this was the largest registered deal in 2025. In addition, AUKLogis GmbH has rented a hall area of around 28,000 m² at Bremer Kreuz. Contract and warehouse logistics follow with a share of around 20 percent.

Commercial rents stabilized at a high level in 2025. The prime rent in Bremen has risen by 95 cents/m² to 6.75 EUR/m² compared to the previous year. At EUR 5.65/m², the average rent for modern logistics space is roughly at the previous year's level. In the Light Industrial segment, rents have also risen as a result of leased new construction projects, reaching record levels of up to EUR 7.50/m².

The lease terms have been further shortened compared to previous years. "Many users prefer shorter terms in order to be able to react more flexibly to changing conditions," says Sundermann and continues: "In addition, companies are increasingly opting for a synchronisation of lease and customer contract at the same time and thus less often for long-term, strategic leases."

In the city of Bremen, there are currently only a few logistics spaces available, especially in the Bremen freight village and in the vicinity of the Bremer Kreuz. The offer is somewhat larger in the surrounding area, where various existing and new properties are still available.

Take-up is likely to remain at a solid level in 2026. Robert C. Spies expects take-up of around 240,000 m² for the year as a whole, which means that the result is likely to be around 30,000 m² below the five-year average. The background to the slight decline is primarily the limited supply of large-scale existing properties. Demand is spread across a wide range of industries without a clear focus – an indicator of the region's broad economic importance as a logistics location. "The vacancy rate is expected to fall further due to the space absorbed in the context of re-lettings as well as the low supply of speculative new buildings and available existing properties," predicts Björn Sundermann. Depending on the quality of the location, a sustainably achievable new building rent of up to EUR 6.60/m² is expected.