Polish warehouse market sees strong demand, falling vacancy rates

The Polish warehouse and industrial market is experiencing a robust recovery, marked by a significant increase in leasing activity and a decrease in vacant spaces. In the first half of 2026, companies leased over 3.51 million square meters of warehouse space, representing a 21.3% rise compared to the same period in 2025. This surge in demand has made the second quarter of 2026 the best performing second quarter in four years.

Experts from the advisory firm Newmark Polska highlight a shift in the market structure. New lease agreements accounted for 52.1% of the total demand in H1 2026, a notable increase from the previous year when renegotiations dominated the market. Renegotiations now represent 34.4% of the demand, with expansions at 7.8% and sale-and-leaseback transactions at 5.7%.

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In the first half of the year, tenants leased over 3.51 million sqm, which is 21.3% more than in the analogous period of 2025.

Short-term leases, defined as agreements up to one year, also saw a substantial increase, growing by nearly 35% compared to the previous year. This indicates a growing flexibility and responsiveness among tenants to market conditions. The most active regions for these transactions were the Silesian, Lower Silesian, Łódź, Masovian, and Greater Poland voivodeships.

E-commerce companies are a significant driving force behind this market boom. In the first half of 2026, they leased over 800,000 sqm of warehouse space, accounting for almost 23% of the total demand. Prominent players in this sector include Shein and Temu. The overall modern warehouse and industrial space in Poland exceeded 38 million sqm by the end of June 2026, a 5.5% increase year-on-year.

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Additionally, tenants concluded short-term lease agreements (up to one year) covering approximately 172,700 sqm, which is almost 35% more than a year earlier.