Asia Pacific’s logistics and industrial real estate sector poised for continued growth despite diverging market conditions
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) has published its inaugural global logistics and industrial outlook, ‘Waypoint 2025’, which highlights a significant shift in the sector as global supply chains are reconfigured and cost pressures evolve. Drawing on insights from more than 120 markets worldwide, the report shows that in the near term, the balance of power is tilting towards landlords, with wide-reaching implications for occupiers, investors, and developers.
The research reveals that globally, the proportion of tenant-favourable markets is expected to fall sharply from 52% today to just 28% by 2028. This change is being driven by constrained supply, robust demand, and rising costs across key inputs such as rent, labour, construction materials, and electricity. At the same time, landlord-favourable markets are forecast to rise from 24% to 35%, signalling a more competitive leasing environment in the years ahead for occupiers.
Dr. Dominic Brown, Head of International Research at Cushman & Wakefield said, “Asia Pacific markets are diverging, with Australia and Southeast Asia seeing a shift towards landlord-favourable conditions, while other parts of the region face rising vacancies and tenant-friendly dynamics. Nevertheless, 62% of APAC markets still expect rental growth in the next three years, driven by robust occupier demand, strategic manufacturing shifts and the region’s cost competitiveness in labour and energy.”
In terms of labour costs, APAC remains highly competitive, with countries like India, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia having significantly lower wages. China has moved toward higher value-added manufacturing, with wages around 50% of the global average.
Another highlight of the report is that general manufacturing, retail distribution and e-commerce distribution are the top three key drivers of demand for logistics and industrial space in Asia Pacific. This is very much aligned to what is being seen across the world. High-tech and automotive manufacturing have also been identified as drivers of occupier demand in APAC over the next three years.
Dennis Yeo, Head of Investor Services and Logistics & Industrial, APAC, Cushman & Wakefield said: “Asia Pacific continues to demonstrate resilience, with markets such as India and Vietnam seeing sustained occupier demand. However, rising vacancy in some subregions, driven by a surge in new supply means that a one-size-fits-all approach no longer works. Businesses must adopt granular, market-specific strategies that account for local cost structures, infrastructure readiness, and automation potential.”
The report concludes that resilience and diversity in supply chains will be essential for navigating both short- and long-term market shocks. Businesses that act decisively and strategically will be best placed to thrive in this evolving industrial landscape.
The full report, including regional breakdowns of rental levels, market conditions and vacancy projections, energy and labour cost comparisons, and analysis of demand drivers such as e-commerce and manufacturing, is available at Waypoint 2025.
‘Waypoint 2025’ is Cushman & Wakefield’s inaugural global logistics & industrial research report which includes results from a survey of Cushman & Wakefield logistics and industrial market-facing colleagues for 127 markets worldwide. The survey was conducted from 7-18th April 2025, after the Trump Administration announced the suspension of most higher tariff rates for 90 days, while maintaining the 10% levy on nearly all global imports.
In a market defined within this research as landlord-favourable, landlords have the stronger negotiating position, and in a market defined as tenant-favourable, tenants have the stronger negotiating position.
