Market research for a volatile industrial sector : Actionable methods for occupiers

The industrial market has undergone unprecedented upheaval over the past decade, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Industrial real estate has seen rapid shifts from undersupply to oversupply, causing pricing bubbles to form and burst quickly. While market research often adopts an investor or landlord perspective, this paper uniquely offers actionable methods from the occupier’s viewpoint. It aims to help corporate real estate (CRE) professionals evaluate their current facilities and leverage market conditions when acquiring new ones. By analysing key fundamentals — vacancy, rents, construction and absorption alongside lease comparable data and supply chain dynamics — readers will become educated consumers of market research, capable of appreciating nuances and asking the right questions when reviewing data and forecasts from brokerage or market research companies.