Apac logistic occupiers more cautious, but most still looking to expand: CBRE survey
The survey, which gathered answers from over 380 firms throughout Apac between March and April, discovered that occupiers in China mainly generated the more cautious sentiment, due to potential unfavorable effects from tougher United States trade regulation. Almost 70% of participants in mainland China assessed trade unpredictability as their top hurdle in the next 2 years.
In general, 44% of CBRE’s questionnaire respondents suggested trade-related governing obstacles as a major worry, up from 32% in 2023. Nonetheless, respondents remained to place economic uncertainty and expense acceleration as the two largest challenges encountering occupiers in the next 2 years, at 60% and 56%, specifically.
Nevertheless, expansion desire differs across individual markets. Based on the survey feedbacks, India, the Middle East and Korea captured the strongest 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%).
According to CBRE, Singapore continues to attract attention among logistics occupiers, specifically for hi-tech production and life technologies industries. “Singapore remains to draw international occupants, because of its reputation as a strategically situated, neutral, and stable logistics center,” claims Graeme Bolin, CBRE’s Singapore head of occupier and leasing for industrial and logistics services.
CBRE’s survey even disclosed a change amongst occupants towards even more cost-driven realty approaches. Participants rated lesser rents and better lease terms as the top factors influencing relocations and lease renewals, whilst lots of are also looking for distance to transport centers, client bases, and supply chains to boost operational performance.
Logistics occupiers in Asia Pacific (Apac) stay positive in overall organization prospects, regardless of expanding cautiousness amidst ongoing trade regulation unpredictability. According to CBRE’s 2025 Asia Pacific Logistics Occupier Poll, near-term confidence among inhabitants has dropped this year, with 69% expecting service efficiency to improve in the subsequent 2 years, compared to 81% in 2023.
Graeme adds that government-led framework investments, integrated with growth by top-tier logistics players and durable resources inflows into modern logistics assets, are strengthening Singapore’s role in the global supply chain.
Despite the uncertain global trade setting, many tenants are looking past temporary industry volatility, says CBRE. Some 76% of its questionnaire respondents suggested plans to broaden their property portfolio size in the next 3 to 5 years, signalling positive outlook throughout the medium- to long-term outlook and a strong appetite for development, the company includes.
