Rent warehouse space in Nuremberg

Why rent a warehouse space in Nuremberg? Location advantages and potentials

Which logistics location in southern Germany offers the best trimodal connection for Europe-wide freight transport? How do the current rents for a modern warehouse in Nuremberg compare to other southern German metropolises such as Munich or Stuttgart?

If companies want to rent warehouse space, invest in Nuremberg and the surrounding area or restructure their distribution, they benefit from one of the most dynamic logistics regions in Europe. As an interface between northern and southern Europe, the region not only provides excellent infrastructure, but also economic stability. This article sheds light on the economic importance, current price developments and shows why the metropolitan region is so crucial for logistics companies.

General description of the location: Nuremberg as an economic engine

The Nuremberg metropolitan region is much more than the cultural center of Franconia. It has developed into one of the most important European hubs for global freight transport.

Crisis-proof economic power through industry and growing e-commerce logistics in Cologne

Nuremberg has been experiencing continuous growth in the industrial sector and in the service sector for years. The close integration of innovative high-tech industry, automotive suppliers and strong e-commerce leads to a permanently high demand for modern logistics space in Nuremberg. This mix of established medium-sized companies and global corporations makes the location extremely crisis-proof.

European reach through Cologne as a Western distribution gateway for 150 million consumers

Nuremberg acts as a logistical gateway to South-Eastern Europe. A radius of 200 kilometers around the city covers a consumer market of around 27 million people. This enormous reach enables extremely fast distribution times in B2B and B2C business.

The infrastructure: Seamless networking across all transport routes

The decisive factor for first-class logistics properties in Nuremberg is the connection. The city offers excellent conditions for smooth transport chains.

• Road connection: The motorway network around Nuremberg is star-shaped. Logistics centers have direct access to the important A3 (Regensburg–Frankfurt), A6 (Prague–Stuttgart), A9 (Munich–Berlin) and A73 motorways. This guarantees fast truck transit times in all directions.
• Rail connection: The Nuremberg marshalling yard is the world's largest existing sloping yard. The freight center alone has a direct connection to the Deutsche Bahn rail network with more than 51 kilometers of track, a large part of which is electrified.
• Water connection: The Main-Danube Canal connects the metropolitan area to the international waterways. Goods from all over the world can be shipped directly from the Rhine-Danube region to the North Sea and Mediterranean ports.
• Air freight: Albrecht Dürer Airport Nuremberg (NUE) is only about 12 kilometers from the city center and the port. It completes the international transport options for urgent air freight and express shipments.
• Modality: The region impresses with excellent bimodal (rail/road) and trimodal (rail/road/water) networked facilities. This enables future-proof and ecologically sustainable transport relocations.

Logistics hotspots and the Nuremberg freight village

The distribution of warehouse space is concentrated in strategically valuable zones and districts that are optimized for industrial logistics.

Popular zones for large-volume logistics centers in the south of Nuremberg and neighboring regions

Areas in the south of Nuremberg, in the neighboring districts of Langwasser, Hafen-Ost and in neighboring regions such as Roth, Erlangen and Fürth are particularly sought-after. These zones provide the necessary space for large-volume logistics centers and extensions.

Trimodal handling at the Bayernhafen freight village as the heart of Nuremberg's logistics

The heart of Nuremberg's logistics is the trimodal freight village in Nuremberg. With a total area of around 337 hectares, it is home to over 200 companies with almost 7,000 employees. According to studies by the German GVZ Society (DGG), the Nuremberg freight village is consistently one of the top 3 freight transport centers in all of Europe.

Rental prices, land costs and contract logistics in Nuremberg

The price-performance ratio is one of the main reasons for settling in the Franconia region.

Economical average rents for high-quality warehouses in the Nuremberg area

Compared to the Munich area (where top rents of €8.50 to over €12.00 per m² are reached), Nuremberg offers significantly more economical conditions. The average rents for a high-quality warehouse in Nuremberg are between €5.50 and €7.50 per square metre, depending on the equipment and exact location (market data 2024).

Smart brownfield revitalizations as a solution for scarce logistics sites and building land

As in many metropolises, building land for logistics is scarce. However, there are regularly affordable development areas in the Nuremberg area through smart brownfield revitalization (renovation of existing areas).

Scalable value-added services and efficient contract logistics services in Franconia

Service providers in the field of contract logistics in Nuremberg offer highly complex value-added services – from packaging to quality inspection. The prices for this vary greatly depending on the degree of automation of the hall and the contractually agreed service level, but score points with high process efficiency and scalability.

Settled companies and the skilled labor market

Anyone who uses warehouse space in Nuremberg is in the best entrepreneurial company and has access to a strong talent pool.

Synergy effects through cluster formation of international logistics companies and global players

International global players and renowned logistics companies such as Kuehne+Nagel, Hermes, DB Schenker and the Geis Group operate huge distribution centers in Nuremberg. This promotes synergy effects and cluster formation.

Availability of industrial specialists and young academics for warehousing

The Nuremberg University of Applied Sciences (TH Nürnberg) and surrounding universities provide well-trained young academics, especially in the field of supply chain management. At the same time, the conurbation offers a reliable potential of industrial specialists for warehousing.

The future of logistics: ESG and automation in Franconia

The location does not stand still. New construction projects place massive emphasis on future viability.

Future-proof construction projects with strict DGNB standards and ESG sustainability criteria

New logistics properties in Nuremberg are almost exclusively built according to strict DGNB or BREEAM standards. Photovoltaic systems on the hall roofs, e-charging stations for heavy-duty traffic and rainwater harvesting systems are now standard.

Higher space efficiency through automated small parts warehouses and state-of-the-art warehouse robotics

Increasing demand is driving the degree of automation. Many operators are equipping their areas with state-of-the-art robotics and automatic small parts warehouses (AS/RS) in order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers and to make more efficient use of space potential through higher construction methods.

Comparison: Nuremberg vs. other European logistics locations

In a national and European comparison, Nuremberg impresses with its geographical center.

While Frankfurt focuses on air freight and Hamburg dominates with its seaport, Nuremberg is the undisputed hub for continental supply to Southern and Eastern Europe. In direct comparison with cities such as Verona or Bremen, the metropolitan region scores with its excellent combination of trimodal infrastructure and moderate operating costs.

Tips for choosing a location in Nuremberg

The choice of exactly the right property is decisive for the cost efficiency of your supply chain. Consider the following criteria:

• Location and motorway connections: Pay attention to whether your business model relies on fast "last mile" distribution within Nuremberg, or whether you act as a hub for long-distance transport. For the latter, locations at the Nuremberg-Süd motorway junction (A6/A73) are essential to avoid traffic jams in the city centre.
• Availability of space in the Nuremberg area: Pure new construction areas (greenfields) are limited. Therefore, check specifically prepared existing properties (brownfields) in the port area, which are often available more quickly and offer an already established infrastructure.
• Cost differences within the region: If you are not absolutely dependent on the direct proximity to the GVZ, it is worth taking a look at the periphery (e.g. Roth or Erlangen). Here, rents per square metre can often be reduced by a further 10 to 15 percent.
• Requirements depending on the industry: Do you do e-commerce? Then the number of ramp gates (cross-docking capability) is decisive. Do you need refrigeration for food or pharmaceutical products? Pay attention to pre-installed temperature-controlled zones, as retrofitting a standard warehouse in Nuremberg is very capital-intensive.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about logistics space in Nuremberg