Apac logistic occupiers more cautious, but most still looking to expand: CBRE survey
CBRE’s questionnaire even disclosed a shift amongst occupiers towards more cost-driven property approaches. Respondents rated lower leas and better lease terms as the top factors influencing relocations and lease renewals, whilst numerous are also seeking proximity to transportation hubs, consumer bases, and supply chains to improve functional effectiveness.
Logistics occupiers in Asia Pacific (Apac) remain confident in overall service prospects, in spite of growing cautiousness in the middle of ongoing trade regulation unpredictability. According to CBRE’s 2025 Asia Pacific Logistics Occupier Report, near-term assurance among inhabitants has decreased this year, with 69% anticipating business performance to enhance in the subsequent two years, compared to 81% in 2023.
In general, 44% of CBRE’s questionnaire participants showed trade-related regulative difficulties as a significant concern, up from 32% in 2023. Nonetheless, respondents remained to rank economic uncertainty and expense escalation as the two most significant obstacles encountering occupiers in the following two years, at 60% and 56%, specifically.
The survey, that gathered replies from over 380 business across Apac in between March and April, discovered that occupants in China mainly drove the more mindful sentiment, as a result of potential adverse influences from tougher United States trade policy. Just about 70% of respondents in mainland China assessed trade unpredictability as their top difficulty in the following 2 years.
Graeme adds that government-led framework financial investments, incorporated with development by top-tier logistics participants and durable funding inflows right into modern logistics assets, are reinforcing Singapore’s role in the global supply chain.
In spite of the uncertain global trade setting, lots of occupants are looking past temporary industry volatility, states CBRE. Some 76% of its poll participants indicated strategies to broaden their property account size in the next three to five years, signalling optimism across the medium- to long-term outlook and a solid cravings for growth, the business adds.
According to CBRE, Singapore remains to stand out among logistics occupants, especially for hi-tech production and life sciences industries. “Singapore continues to attract global occupiers, thanks to its credibility as a strategically situated, neutral, and steady logistics hub,” claims Graeme Bolin, CBRE’s Singapore head of occupier and leasing for industrial and logistics services.
Nonetheless, development desire varies throughout individual markets. Based on the poll feedbacks, India, the Middle East and Korea captured the strongest net expansion interest at 66%, 49% and 40%, specifically. Vietnam (34%), Singapore (33%) and the Philippines (33%) registered the next-highest interest levels, adhered to by Thailand (28%) and Australia (25%).
