Apac logistic occupiers more cautious, but most still looking to expand: CBRE survey
According to CBRE, Singapore remains to stand apart amongst logistics occupiers, particularly for hi-tech production and life technologies industries. “Singapore remains to attract international occupiers, due to its reputation as a strategically located, neutral, and steady logistics center,” claims Graeme Bolin, CBRE’s Singapore head of occupier and leasing for industrial and logistics services.
Logistics occupants in Asia Pacific (Apac) stay positive in overall service prospects, regardless of growing cautiousness amidst continuous trade policy uncertainty. According to CBRE’s 2025 Asia Pacific Logistics Occupier Report, near-term assurance among occupiers has decreased this year, with 69% anticipating business performance to improve in the subsequent 2 years, compared to 81% in 2023.
In spite of the unclear worldwide trade environment, lots of occupants are looking beyond short-term market volatility, states CBRE. Some 76% of its questionnaire respondents showed plans to expand their property portfolio size in the next 3 to five years, signalling positive outlook throughout the tool- to long-term outlook and a strong cravings for growth, the company includes.
The survey, that collected feedbacks from over 380 business throughout Apac in between March and April, found that tenants in China predominantly generated the more careful position, due to potential adverse influences from tougher US trade regulation. Just about 70% of respondents in mainland China identified trade uncertainty as their leading difficulty in the following 2 years.
CBRE’s poll additionally disclosed a switch among occupiers in the direction of more cost-driven realty strategies. Participants placed lesser leas and better lease terms as the top factors influencing relocations and lease renewals, whilst lots of are also seeking closeness to transportation hubs, customer bases, and supply chains to boost operational effectiveness.
Nevertheless, development appetite differs throughout individual markets. Based on the survey feedbacks, India, the Middle East and Korea documented the highest net expansion interest at 66%, 49% and 40%, specifically. Vietnam (34%), Singapore (33%) and the Philippines (33%) registered the next-highest attention levels, followed by Thailand (28%) and Australia (25%).
Graeme adds that government-led framework financial investments, integrated with growth by top-tier logistics competitors and robust funding inflows into modern logistics assets, are enhancing Singapore’s role in the worldwide supply chain.
Overall, 44% of CBRE’s questionnaire participants indicated trade-related regulative difficulties as a major worry, up from 32% in 2023. Nonetheless, respondents continued to rank economic unpredictability and expense escalation as the two most significant challenges encountering occupiers in the following two years, at 60% and 56%, specifically.
