Warehousing & logistics sector leasing increase to 21% in 2023
Warehousing & Logistics recorded absorption of 37.8 million sq ft, 21% higher, compared to the previous year. Absorption has been on the rise since 2021, increasing gradually year over year. Despite dried-up investments in 2023, absorption surpassed pre-pandemic level of 2019 by 15%.
The sector received investments worth USD 646 million in 2023, accounting for 15% of the total institutional investment received in the real estate sector. However, investments declined by 65% in 2023 over the previous year as investors opted for wait-and-watch mode amid global macroeconomic uncertainty.
In the past decade, 3PL companies emerged as a preferred choice for several businesses as these companies can optimize cost along with providing flexibility to their clients in case of demand uncertainty.
As a result, the share of 3PL companies increased over the years and reached 44% of the overall absorption in 2023, followed by Engineering and Manufacturing companies with 18% share. Retail accounted for 11% of the overall absorption in 2023.
Mumbai contributed the highest to the overall absorption in 2023 with 27% share. Its share has increased from 19% a year earlier. In absolute terms, absorption increased by 69% in the city, reaching 10.2 million sq ft in 2023. Heightened real estate activities during the year resulted in an annual appreciation of 4% in rentals.
On the other hand, Kolkata witnessed the highest annual decline of 23%, reaching 1.6 Mn sq ft in 2023. Its share has also declined from 7% in 2022 to 4% in 2023.
