Apac logistic occupiers more cautious, but most still looking to expand: CBRE survey
The study, which gathered answers from over 380 companies throughout Apac between March and April, identified that tenants in China predominantly steered the more careful sentiment, because of potential unfavorable effects from tougher US trade laws. Almost 70% of respondents in mainland China assessed trade uncertainty as their top challenge in the following two years.
Generally, 44% of CBRE’s poll participants suggested trade-related regulatory obstacles as a major issue, up from 32% in 2023. Nonetheless, respondents remained to place economic unpredictability and price acceleration as the two largest challenges dealing with inhabitants in the following 2 years, at 60% and 56%, specifically.
Nonetheless, expansion appetite varies across individual markets. Based on the survey results, India, the Middle East and Korea recorded 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, complied with by Thailand (28%) and Australia (25%).
CBRE’s poll additionally uncovered a change amongst occupiers towards even more cost-driven real estate strategies. Respondents ranked lower leas and better lease terms as the top factors influencing relocations and lease renewals, whilst several are also looking for proximity to transportation centers, consumer bases, and supply chains to enhance operational performance.
According to CBRE, Singapore remains to stand out amongst logistics occupiers, particularly for hi-tech manufacturing and life sciences fields. “Singapore continues to draw global occupants, due to its reputation as a strategically situated, neutral, and secure logistics hub,” claims Graeme Bolin, CBRE’s Singapore head of occupier and leasing for industrial and logistics business.
Logistics tenants in Asia Pacific (Apac) remain confident in continued organization prospects, in spite of expanding cautiousness in the middle of ongoing trade protocol unpredictability. According to CBRE’s 2025 Asia Pacific Logistics Occupier Poll, near-term assurance among occupiers has declined this year, with 69% anticipating service efficiency to improve in the upcoming two years, compared to 81% in 2023.
Despite the unsure international trade setting, several occupants are looking beyond temporary industry volatility, says CBRE. Some 76% of its poll respondents showed strategies to broaden their property account size in the next three to five years, signalling positive outlook throughout the medium- to long-term outlook and a solid cravings for development, the firm adds.
Graeme includes that government-led infrastructure investments, combined with growth by top-tier logistics participants and robust capital inflows into modern logistics assets, are enhancing Singapore’s role in the global supply chain.
