The REALOGIS Group recorded a total take-up of 255,500 m² in the logistics and industrial property market of the Ruhr region in the first half of 2026. Of this, 237,800 m² or 93% was attributable to warehouse space, while office space contributed 10,000 m² (4%) and mezzanine space 7,700 m² (3%). Warehouse space take-up surpassed the previous year's figure by 53,400 m² or 29%. The current 5-year average of 188,706 m² was exceeded by 26%, after warehouse space take-up had remained below the comparative figure in the four preceding first halves of the year.
The five largest lease agreements in the first half of 2026 totalled 129,550 m², accounting for 51% of the overall take-up. These significant leases included Cencora with 34,460 m², Goodcang Logistics with 30,000 m², Blitz Distribution with 22,890 m², Siemens Mobility with 21,700 m², and FlexiSpot with 20,500 m². Bülent Alemdag, Managing Director of REALOGIS Immobilien Düsseldorf GmbH, noted that the Ruhr region had achieved an above-average result. He emphasised the concentration on a few large-volume deals, indicating selective demand that arises where a suitable combination of location, space configuration, and short-term availability is present. This does not suggest broad market momentum.
The prime rent of EUR 7.75/m² and the average rent of EUR 6.50/m² remained stable in the reporting period compared to the previous year and the end of 2025. Despite this sideways movement, the prime rent was 9% above the 5-year average of EUR 7.08/m². The average rent exceeded the 5-year average of EUR 6.17/m² by 5%. Regarding space distribution, leases in existing properties dominated with 183,140 m² or 72% of the total take-up, with three of the five largest deals falling into this segment. New-build properties on former brownfields followed with 56,160 m² (22%), generated entirely by the deals from Cencora and Siemens Mobility. New-build spaces on greenfield sites played a subordinate role with 16,200 m² (6%). The market in the Ruhr region operated exclusively as a rental market in the first half of 2026; no owner-occupier deals were recorded.
In a sector comparison, the logistics/forwarding segment showed the highest leasing activity with 126,400 m² or 49% of the total take-up. The deals from Goodcang Logistics and Blitz Distribution amounted to 52,890 m², representing 42% of the sector's take-up. The industrial/production sector ranked second with 68,600 m² (27%), significantly influenced by Cencora and Siemens Mobility, which together contributed 56,160 m². Retail achieved 46,200 m² (18%), of which 27,000 m² (58%) was attributable to e-commerce, marked by the FlexiSpot deal of 20,500 m². Other sectors accounted for 14,300 m² (6%).
Regarding size classes, large areas of 10,001 m² and above dominated market activity with 149,550 m² or 59%. Here, 87% of the space take-up was attributable to the five largest deals. Areas between 5,001 m² and 10,000 m² contributed 80,000 m² (31%). Together, areas from 5,001 m² accounted for 90% of market activity. Medium-sized areas between 3,001 m² and 5,000 m² reached 17,400 m² (7%), while smaller areas between 1,000 m² and 3,000 m² stood at 7,650 m² (3%). Micro-spaces under 1,000 m² played a marginal role with 900 m².
