Manufacturers are increasingly occupying industrial halls in Europe. The CEE region is growing fastest – partly thanks to the defence industry
Caution among developers, tenants and real estate investors has characterised the commercial property market across Europe from January to August 2026. With one exception – space for manufacturing and warehousing. Despite the overall macroeconomic situation and geopolitical uncertainty across the continent, this segment continues to grow steadily; within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, the Czech Republic is showing considerable resilience. According to international real estate consultancy 108 REAL ESTATE, new construction and leasing activity are also reaching high levels in Slovakia, Poland and Romania. Year on year, this represents an increase of up to 20 to 30% in the volume of leased space, depending on the market. Manufacturing and logistics are the drivers of demand – both in Western Europe and in CEE markets. In Central and Eastern Europe, however, we are seeing a higher share of manufacturing in the overall performance of individual markets than in the past.
