REALOGIS: Market for logistics and industrial properties in the Ruhr region turned positive again in 2025, with major deals dominating the market

• Take-up increased by 75% to 603,200 m²
• Rent level stable
• Existing space remained the supporting pillar with 305,500 m²
• Big box spaces dominated market activity
• Companies from the logistics/freight forwarding sector are the strongest buyers

Düsseldorf, 20 February 2026 – The REALOGIS Group, Germany's leading consulting firm for industrial and logistics real estate as well as commercial properties, registered take-up of 603,200 m² in the industrial and logistics real estate market in the Ruhr region in the 2025 financial year.

This was the first time in five years that take-up rose again and was again above the 600,000 m² mark, which was last the case in 2021. Compared to the previous year, there was an increase of 257,600 m² or 75% (2024: 345,600 m²). The 5-year average of 521,726 m² was exceeded by 16%.

The five largest revenue generators accounted for 248,000 m² or 41% of total take-up. The largest lettings were accounted for by Amazon (86,000 m²), FIEGE (55,000 m²), Blitz Distribution (37,000 m²), Winnet (36,000 m²) and JD Logistics (34,000 m²).

Rents: No changes in prime and average rents

Both the prime rent of €7.75/m² and the average rent of €6.50/m² were at the level of 2024 at the end of 2025. Both values had also been registered for the 1st half of 2025.

Take-up: portfolio in the lead, brownfields with strong growth

Existing areas will remain the most important pillar in the Ruhr region in 2025. It accounted for 305,500 m², or 51% of take-up (2024: 256,200 m² / 74%). Compared to the previous year, this corresponds to an increase of 49,300 m² or 19%.

New construction sites on former brownfields will noticeably gain in importance again in 2025. Here, 189,100 m² was let, which corresponded to a share of 31% of take-up (2024: 89,400 m² / 26%). Amazon and Winnet together accounted for 65% of brownfield operations, with Amazon alone accounting for 45%.

New greenfield buildings accounted for 108,600 m² in 2025, an 18% market share. In the previous year, no deals were registered in this segment.

The Ruhr area market area will remain a pure rental market in 2025. Rentals by owners were not recorded.

Building types: Big box spaces remained dominant

In terms of building type, big-box space maintained its top position with 506,800 m² or 84% market share (2024: 237,800 m² / 69%). The result corresponds to a significant increase of 269,000 m² or 113% compared to the previous year.

Other properties that cannot be assigned to either the category of big-box properties or business parks followed with 94,000 m² and a share of 16% (2024: 79,700 m² / 23%). With 2,400 m² or 0.4% market share, business parks played only a subordinate role (2024: 28,100 m² / 8%).

User groups: Logistics/freight forwarding clearly ahead, trade in second place

The highest activity in 2025 was recorded by companies in the logistics/freight forwarding sector. The industry accounted for 413,700 m² or 69% market share (2024: 168,600 m² / 49%). In a year-on-year comparison, this corresponds to growth of 245,100 m² or 145%. The 5-year average of 264,845 m² was thus exceeded by 56%. The most significant deals in this user group included the leases by FIEGE (55,000 m²), Blitz Distribution (37,000 m²), Winnet (36,000 m²) and JD Logistics (34,000 m²). Together, these four lettings accounted for 162,000 m² or 39% of the industry's turnover.

Deals by retail companies followed in second place with 133,600 m² or 22% market share (2024: 126,800 m² / 37%). Within retail, e-commerce dominated with 113,900 m² and 85% of retail space take-up (2024: 109,900 m² / 87%). With 86,000 m², Amazon accounted for 76% of e-commerce sales. Traditional retail reached 19,700 m² or 15% (2024: 16,900 m² / 13%).

Industry/production accounted for 49,500 m² and 8% market share in 2025 (2024: 26,300 m² / 7%). Other sectors were responsible for take-up of 6,400 m² or 1% market share (2024: 23,900 m² / 7%).

Size classes: Large areas from 10,001 m² characterise the market

Large spaces of 10,001 m² or more continued to dominate in 2025. It accounted for 506,800 m² and thus 84% market share (2024: 237,800 m² / 69%). In absolute and percentage terms, take-up increased by 269,000 m² or 113% compared to the previous year, which was accompanied by an increase in importance of 15 percentage points. All five of the largest deals, each comprising at least 30,000 m², were registered in this size class. Units between 5,001 m² and 10,000 m² contributed 49,500 m² or 8% (2024: 40,200 m² / 12%). The two largest space categories of 5,001 m² or more accounted for a total of 92% of market activity in 2025 (2024: 80%).

The segment between 3,001 m² and 5,000 m² accounted for 34,600 m² or 6% (2024: 41,500 m² / 12%). Areas between 1,000 m² and 3,000 m² reached 12,300 m² and a share of 2% (2024: 25,000 m² / 7%). Small areas of less than 1,000 m² will not play a role in 2025.

Key figures at a glance

• Take-up: 603,200 m²
• Prime rent: 7.75 €/m²
• Average rent: €6.50/m²
• Existing areas: 305,500 m² | New building on brownfields: 189,100 m² |New building on a greenfield site: 108,600 m²
• Tenants: 603,200 m² | Owner-occupier: 0 m²

REALOGIS. The No. 1 in industrial and logistics real estate

The REALOGIS Group is Germany's leading address for advising and brokering industrial and logistics properties as well as commercial properties. As an owner-managed company with locations in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Germany South/North, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart, the company, founded in 2005, has in-depth market knowledge and more than twenty years of experience in the German real estate sector.

Around 70 employees support national and international companies from logistics, industry, trade and e-commerce as well as private and institutional investors. The range of services includes the mediation of tenants for existing and new properties, the support of investors in acquisitions and project developments, advice on the search for or sale of land as well as the development and implementation of holistic real estate strategies, from location analysis to the realisation of assets that are no longer necessary for operation.

Contact MediaTarga Communications
Arne DegenerT +49 151 196 933 90E ad@targacommunications.de