Storage & Warehouse Leasing in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The storage and warehouse leasing industry in the European Union provides critical logistical infrastructure for the storage, management, and transshipment of diverse goods across the single market. In 2023, the industry experienced significant activity, led by major continental economies where Germany generated a sector turnover of 15,830 million Euros and the Netherlands achieved 9,750 million Euros, according to Eurostat data. Moving forward, the industry is transitioning toward increased automation, regional nearshoring of manufacturing, and modern, energy-efficient facilities to combat urban land constraints and evolving climate transition mandates.

Industry snapshot

Key public data points

Historical & forecast

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What does the Storage & Warehouse Leasing in European Union industry cover?

The industry encompasses the operation and leasing of storage and warehouse facilities for all types of freight and merchandise within the European Union. It includes general merchandise warehouses, refrigerated and cold storage units, grain silos, bulk liquid or gas storage tanks, and specialized storage within foreign trade zones. The sector focuses strictly on third-party commercial warehousing operations and the provision of space, rather than private, owner-occupied storage.

• •Classified officially under the European NACE system to ensure standardized data tracking across member states.
• •Covers blast freezing and highly specialized containment services for dangerous or perishable goods.
• •Excludes parking facilities, the temporary storage of vehicles, and personal self-storage operations.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European warehousing market is highly integrated into global supply chains, featuring a mix of multinational logistics providers, specialized real estate investment trusts, and local operators. Industrial real estate developers construct and lease physical shells, while third-party logistics firms (3PLs) utilize these spaces to manage complex inventory distributions. Turnover is highly concentrated in Western European transit hubs due to their extensive proximity to deepwater ports and major freight corridors.

• •Germany represents the largest continental EU market, recording a sector turnover of 15,830 million Euros in 2023.
• •The Netherlands serves as a premier maritime entry point, achieving a sector turnover of 9,750 million Euros in 2023.
• •Central and Eastern European countries, such as Poland, are expanding rapidly, with Poland reaching a turnover of 3,850 million Euros in 2023.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand for modern warehousing and leasing across the EU is fundamentally driven by structural shifts in e-commerce penetration, nearshoring, and supply chain resilience initiatives. Companies are increasingly adopting regionalized 'just-in-case' inventory strategies rather than 'just-in-time' models to mitigate global shipping bottlenecks and geopolitical friction. Urban densification further mandates the development of sophisticated last-mile distribution centers adjacent to major metropolitan consumers.

• •Online retail sales are projected by industry data to expand further, targeting up to 25% of total retail shares in Continental Europe.
• •Nearshoring trends are accelerating domestic manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA), directly increasing adjacent storage requirements.
• •Cold chain infrastructure is experiencing heightened demand from the pharmaceutical and perishable agricultural food processing sectors.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive environment features a blend of global transportation conglomerates that manage end-to-end warehousing operations and prominent European corporate entities. Real estate giants focus on physical asset leasing, while integrated logistics firms focus on contract logistics and inventory handling. Competition centers heavily on geographic location, multi-modal transport connectivity, and the integration of advanced warehousing technologies.

• •DHL Group, headquartered in Germany, operates extensive public warehousing and fulfillment networks across the EU.
• •A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S, based in Denmark, actively expands its continental landside warehousing and storage footprints.
• •Kuehne + Nagel International AG maintains vast contract logistics and dedicated storage facilities throughout major European hubs.
• •Newcold, a major logistics and cold storage specialist based in the Netherlands, focuses heavily on advanced automated deep-freeze warehousing.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The European leasing market is undergoing a clear bifurcation, where modern prime logistics assets see steady interest while older properties face obsolescence. Rising vacancy rates in mid-2025 have led developers to tightly control speculative construction, resulting in a historically muted development pipeline moving into 2026. Occupiers are focusing investments on warehouse automation and seeking alternative energy solutions to counter regional power grid limitations.

• •Aggregate prime logistics rental growth across core European markets is projected to normalize at approximately 1.8% in 2026.
• •Electricity grid constraints are driving a shift toward self-sufficient, off-grid warehouse energy solutions.
• •Labor shortages in established hubs are forcing operators to accelerate capital allocation toward autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

How is the industry regulated?

Operations within the EU are heavily governed by strict environmental, labor, and construction standards set by European and national agencies. Facilities must adhere to stringent building energy performance mandates, with a growing operational focus transitioning from simple green certifications to pragmatic climate transition plans. Storage of chemicals, food, and pharmaceuticals requires adherence to precise safety and sanitary directives.

• •Warehouses must satisfy the strict building codes and zoning laws enforced by local European municipalities.
• •Refrigerated units comply with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regulations regarding strict cold chain monitoring.
• •Facilities handling chemical products are legally bound by the EU's REACH regulation concerning hazardous material management.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Eurostat Industrial Turnover Index Overview 2023 ·
• INSPIRE Registry Economic Activity NACE Value H.52.10 ·
• Central Statistics Office (CSO) NACE 52 Warehousing Survey Guidelines