Top start to the year on the logistics market in the Ruhr region: Turnover exceeds previous year and average

In this context, the retail sector has so far been underrepresented with a share of just under 6%, but the demand impulses emanating from this sector are indirectly reflected in the high earnings contribution of logistics service providers (a good 57%). Not only proportionately, but also in terms of volume, the logistics companies were able to achieve an above-average result. In addition to the deals of the prominent online players, freight forwarding and logistics companies should also be mentioned, among others, which have made a move in the segments up to 10,000 m². With a further almost 17%, the manufacturing sector is also represented in the industry ranking as a result of Siemens Mobility's deal.

The broad demand base in the Ruhr region is also reflected in the size categories of the deals concluded: all categories of 5,000 m² or more account for at least 20% of the overall balance.

With very good leasing momentum in the first quarter, the Ruhr logistics market was able to seamlessly pick up where it left off in the second half of 2025. Thus, an average take-up in the coming months would be sufficient to present another increase in earnings by the middle of the year. Whether this can then be realized depends above all on the developments of geopolitical conflicts, which have the potential to influence market sentiment in one direction or the other at any time due to the global networking of the logistics industry.

As long as the various trouble spots do not escalate further, demand is likely to remain consistently high, especially from users from the e-commerce sector and from the Asian region. The challenge here is primarily to map the usually large-scale and often short-term requests of these actors. Overall, however, no significant changes are expected in the supply situation: While some available space in existing properties has been let out, expiring leases 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.

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