The REALOGIS Group, Germany’s leading consulting firm for industrial and logistics real estate as well as commercial properties, observed an overall lively start to the year in the Berlin logistics real estate market in the 1st quarter of 2026. Take-up in the 1st quarter of 2026 totalled 106,000 m². Of this, 96,700 m² or 91% was hall space, 5,900 m² or 6% office space and 3,400 m² or 3% mezzanine space.
Take-up of warehouse space increased by 19,500 m² or 25% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. This exceeded the 5-year average of this space segment of 87,000 m² by 11%. The three largest deals of JD Logistics with 41,430 m², FST Industrie with 11,200 m² and rentitNOW with 7,900 m² together comprise 60,530 m² or 57% of the total result of market turnover from January to the end of March 2026.
Alexander Ego, Managing Director of REALOGIS Immobilien Berlin GmbH, comments: “Berlin has made a strong start to 2026. The large-scale market entry of JD Logistics in the southern area of Berlin is particularly striking. This shows that Chinese companies are now also actively expanding in Berlin and significantly expanding their presence in competition with established market players. Against the backdrop of the roll-out of Joybuy, which has been visibly accelerated again since March 2026, it is to be expected that further Chinese companies will settle in the Berlin market area and further stimulate demand for large-scale logistics properties.”
Rents remained stable at a high level
The prime rent remained unchanged at €10.50/m² in the 1st quarter of 2026, remaining 11% above the 5-year average of €9.47/m². The average rent also remained at the level of the same quarter of the previous year at €8.10/m². This was 7% above the 5-year average of €7.54/m². After several years of increase, rents thus moved sideways at a high level for the time being.
Deals in brownfield developments in front of existing areas
At 50,300 m² or 47% of total take-up, new buildings on brownfield sites were concluded ahead of existing space at 46,500 m² or 44%. New buildings on greenfield sites accounted for 9,200 m² or 9%. The strong development of brownfield space was largely due to the deals of JD Logistics with 41,430 m² and rentitNOW with 7,900 m², which together accounted for around 98% of the take-up achieved there. FST Industrie dominated the market with 11,200 m² of existing sales, which corresponded to around 24% of the portfolio turnover.
In terms of building type, big box space dominated with 69,400 m², followed by other space with 26,700 m² and business parks with 9,900 m². The market remained tenant-driven. Leases accounted for 106,000 m² or 100%. Owner-occupiers were not registered in the 1st quarter of 2026.
Berlin Surrounding Area South before the City of Berlin
With 53,000 m² or a share of 50%, the southern area of Berlin was the strongest take-up area in the 1st quarter of 2026. The city of Berlin followed in second place with 40,300 m² or 38%. Within the urban area, Berlin West achieved 17,500 m², followed by Berlin South with 13,100 m², Berlin North with 5,300 m² and Berlin East with 4,400 m². The northern area of Berlin accounted for 9,200 m² or 9%, the West area of Berlin 3,500 m² or 3%. No deals were registered in the eastern area of Berlin.
Industries: Logistics/freight forwarding led before retail
The logistics/freight forwarding sector achieved the highest take-up of space with 53,200 m² or 50%, well ahead of the retail sector with 27,600 m² or 26%. Within retail, 16,200 m² or 59% was accounted for by traditional retail and 11,400 m² or 41% by e-commerce. The other category reached 14,000 m² or 13%. The Industry/Production sector accounted for 11,200 m² or 11%. The strong result of the logistics/freight forwarding sector was mainly due to the major deal of JD Logistics, which alone accounted for 78% of take-up in this category.
Half of the take-up was accounted for by deals of 10,001 m² or more
Large spaces of 10,001 m² or more remained dominant in the market and, at 52,630 m², accounted for exactly half of total take-up. The area between 5,001 m² and 10,000 m² accounted for 14,100 m². The segment between 3,001 m² and 5,000 m² reached 20,370 m². Lettings between 1,000 m² and 3,000 m² added up to 16,300 m². The smallest areas under 1,000 m² came to 2,600 m².
Key figures at a glance
- Take-up: 106,000 m²
- Top rent: €10.50/m²
- Average rent: €8.10/m²
- Existing areas: 46,500 m² | New building on brownfield: 50,300 m² | New building on a greenfield site: 9,200 m²
- Tenants: 106,000 m² | Owner-occupier: 0 m²
