Apac logistic occupiers more cautious, but most still looking to expand: CBRE survey
According to CBRE, Singapore remains to attract attention amongst logistics occupants, particularly for hi-tech manufacturing and life technologies markets. “Singapore continues to attract global occupiers, thanks to its credibility as a strategically found, neutral, and steady logistics hub,” claims Graeme Bolin, CBRE’s Singapore head of occupier and leasing for industrial and logistics business.
The survey, which in turn collected replies from over 380 firms throughout Apac in between March and April, discovered that tenants in China mainly steered the more cautious view, as a result of prospective unfavorable influences from tougher US trade regulation. Almost 70% of participants in mainland China assessed trade uncertainty as their leading hurdle in the following two years.
In general, 44% of CBRE’s questionnaire participants showed trade-related regulative obstacles as a major problem, up from 32% in 2023. Nonetheless, respondents remained to rank economic unpredictability and expense escalation as the two greatest challenges facing occupiers in the next two years, at 60% and 56%, specifically.
CBRE’s questionnaire additionally revealed a shift amongst occupiers in the direction of more cost-driven property methods. Respondents placed lower leas and better lease terms as the top factors influencing relocations and lease renewals, whilst several are also seeking distance to transportation hubs, customer bases, and supply chains to boost operational efficiency.
Graeme includes that government-led framework financial investments, integrated with expansion by top-tier logistics participants and durable resources inflows right into modern logistics assets, are reinforcing Singapore’s role in the international supply chain.
Despite the unpredictable global trade environment, many occupants are looking past temporary market volatility, states CBRE. Some 76% of its survey respondents showed strategies to increase their realty account scale in the next 3 to 5 years, signalling optimism throughout the tool- to long-term outlook and a solid appetite for development, the company adds.
Logistics tenants in Asia Pacific (Apac) continue to be confident in overall service prospects, regardless of growing cautiousness amid continuous trade protocol unpredictability. According to CBRE’s 2025 Asia Pacific Logistics Occupier Report, near-term confidence amongst occupiers has decreased this year, with 69% anticipating service performance to improve in the next 2 years, compared to 81% in 2023.
Nonetheless, growth desire varies throughout individual markets. Based on the poll answers, India, the Middle East and Korea captured the highest net expansion interest at 66%, 49% and 40%, respectively. Vietnam (34%), Singapore (33%) and the Philippines (33%) registered the next-highest interest levels, complied with by Thailand (28%) and Australia (25%).
