REALOGIS: NRW take-up rises to 624,300 square metres by mid-year

• 624,300 m² of take-up in the three NRW markets of Düsseldorf, Cologne and the Ruhr area
• Second strongest 1st half of the year for hall space since 2014
• Rents unchanged in all three sub-markets
• Ruhr area remains the largest sub-market ahead of Düsseldorf and Cologne
• Logistics/freight forwarding leads, e-commerce shapes retail

Düsseldorf, 30 July 2026 – The REALOGIS Group, Germany's leading consulting firm for industrial and logistics real estate as well as commercial properties, has registered total take-up of 624,300 m² in the logistics and industrial real estate market of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in the 1st half of 2026. The evaluation is based on market data from the Düsseldorf, Cologne and Ruhr sub-markets.

Hall space accounted for 578,400 m² or 93% of total take-up. This means that take-up of hall space was 117,000 m² (25%) higher than in the same period of the previous year (H1 2025: 461,400 m²). The 5-year average of 462,766 m² was also exceeded by 25%. In terms of hall space, it was the second strongest 1st half of the year since records began in 2014.

The five largest deals together accounted for 199,270 m², or 32% of total take-up. They were accounted for by ID Logistics (70,000 m²) and Goodcang Logistics (41,920 m²), both in Cologne, as well as Cencora (34,460 m²), Goodcang Logistics (30,000 m²) and Blitz Distribution in the Ruhr area (22,890 m²).

Bülent Alemdag, Managing Director of REALOGIS Immobilien Düsseldorf GmbH: "However, the strong half-year result does not reflect broad market momentum, but above all the importance of available existing space. Those who can offer marketable space at short notice have a clear advantage."

Rents: No change, Düsseldorf remains the most expensive submarket

The most expensive market in North Rhine-Westphalia remained Düsseldorf. This applies to both prime and average rents. They were €8.25/m² and €7.00/m² respectively.

For Cologne, the peak was 8.00 €/m² and an average of 6.85 €/m², in the Ruhr area 7.75 €/m² and 6.50 €/m². All figures remained unchanged compared to the full year 2025 and the 1st half of 2025.

Types of land: Existing stock remains the clear leader

Across North Rhine-Westphalia, 494,740 m² or 79% of total take-up was accounted for by existing properties. New buildings on former brownfields reached 113,360 m² (18%). New buildings on greenfield sites accounted for 16,200 m² (3%). No owner-occupier financial statements were registered in the 1st half of 2026.

Submarkets: Ruhr area ahead of Düsseldorf and Cologne

The Ruhr region remained the strongest sub-market in the 1st half of 2026, accounting for 255,500 m² or 41% of take-up. Düsseldorf reached 193,000 m² (31%), Cologne 175,800 m² (28%).

While the stores in Cologne and the Ruhr area each showed an increase of 105% and 29% respectively, Düsseldorf recorded a minus of 11%. In terms of hall space, all three sub-markets were above their respective 5-year averages.

User groups: Logistics/freight forwarding leads, trade remains strong

Logistics and freight forwarding accounted for 367,800 m² or 59% of total take-up. Retail reached 128,200 m² (21%), of which 83,200 m² came from e-commerce. Industry and production accounted for 92,600 m² (15%), other sectors for 35,700 m² (5%).

Size classes: Large deals shaped the market

Deals of 10,001 m² or more accounted for 410,450 m² or 66% of total take-up. Areas between 5,001 m² and 10,000 m² came to 145,200 m², 3,001 m² to 5,000 m² to 32,700 m², 1,000 m² to 3,000 m² to 31,550 m². The smallest areas of less than 1,000 m² reached 4,400 m².

Key figures at a glance

• Take-up 624,300 m²
• Top rent Düsseldorf 8.25 €/m² | Cologne 8.00 €/m² | Ruhr area 7.75 €/m²
• Average rent Düsseldorf 7.00 €/m² | Cologne 6.85 €/m² | Ruhr area 6.50 €/m²
• Existing properties 494,740 m² | New building on brownfield 113,360 m² |
• New building on a greenfield site 16,200 m²
• Tenants 624,300 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 Media

Targa Communications

Arne Degener

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