Julian Petri, Managing Director of REALOGIS Immobilien Frankfurt GmbH, commented: “In 2026, take-up is expected to remain below the five-year average, as only a limited number of new developments are currently being planned. Nevertheless, I expect the market to continue its gradual recovery, which should also be reflected in take-up figures.”

Rents: Prime rent continues upward trend
The prime rent increased year on year to €8.50 per sq m, reaching a new provisional high. This marks an increase of €0.40 per sq m, or 5%, compared with €8.10 per sq m in the previous year. At the end of the first half of 2025, the prime rent stood at €8.30 per sq m.

Space types: Existing space stable, greenfield sites see strong growth
Leasing activity in existing space once again set the pace, accounting for 289,700 sq m or 66% of total take-up (2024: 291,600 sq m or 69%). Following a 20% decline in the previous year, the existing buildings segment has now stabilised. The two large contracts by Shaoke and Pirelli Deutschland GmbH together contributed 50,000 sq m, or 17%, of take-up in this category.

Greenfield sites totalled 120,400 sq m, representing a 28% market share (2024: 72,400 sq m or 17%). Key leasing deals by FIEGE, Alnatura and Aldi Süd accounted for 69% of take-up in this segment.

Brownfield developments contributed 25,100 sq m, or 6%, to total take-up (2024: 59,300 sq m or 14%).

Market structure: Sublettings continue to rise, rental market dominates
Sublettings continued to play a significant role in the Frankfurt market. Their share of total take-up increased to 101,200 sq m, or 23% (2024: 70,300 sq m or 17%).

As in 2024, the Frankfurt market was predominantly tenant-driven. Rental agreements accounted for 96%, or 419,300 sq m – an increase of 54,800 sq m or 15%. Owner-occupier deals fell by 43,000 sq m, or 73%, to 15,800 sq m, representing just 4% of market activity (2024: 58,800 sq m or 14%).

Property types: Big-box space takes the lead
By building type, big-box properties ranked first with 199,100 sq m, or a 46% share of take-up (2024: 131,900 sq m or 31%), overtaking the Supply/Others category. Second place went to Supply/Others with 119,600 sq m, or 27% (2024: 179,200 sq m or 42%). Business parks followed with 116,500 sq m, also representing 27% (2024: 112,200 sq m or 27%).

Submarkets: Rhine-Main South dominates
Rhine-Main South remained the clear driver of take-up, reaching 310,500 sq m, or 71% of total activity (2024: 232,600 sq m or 55%). The largest contributors included Shaoke (36,000 sq m), FIEGE (30,700 sq m), Alnatura (27,200 sq m), Aldi Süd (25,500 sq m) and Pirelli Deutschland GmbH (14,000 sq m). Together, these accounted for 43% of total take-up.

Rhine-Main North followed in second place with 38,500 sq m, or 9% (2024: 57,000 sq m or 13%). Rhine-Main East recorded 31,100 sq m, or a 7% share (2024: 95,400 sq m or 23%). Frankfurt achieved 26,600 sq m, or 6% (2024: 19,000 sq m or 5%), Mainz/Wiesbaden 16,300 sq m, or 4% (2024: 10,500 sq m or 2%), and Rhine-Main West 12,200 sq m, or 3% (2024: 8,800 sq m or 2%).

Occupier sectors: Logistics/Distribution gains ground, e-commerce remains subdued
The ranking of occupier groups remained unchanged. Logistics/Distribution led with 208,500 sq m, or 48% (2024: 159,900 sq m or 38%). The two largest leases by Shaoke and FIEGE accounted for 32% of sector take-up.

Retail/Wholesale followed with 125,200 sq m, or 29%, up from 112,600 sq m, or 27%, in the previous year. While the sector had seen the sharpest decline in the prior year (-47,600 sq m or -30%), take-up increased by 12,600 sq m, or 11%, in 2025. Within Retail/Wholesale, traditional retail dominated with 113,500 sq m, or 91%, while e-commerce accounted for 11,700 sq m, or 9%.

Manufacturing reached 73,800 sq m, or 17% (2024: 93,900 sq m or 22%). The Supply/Others category totalled 27,700 sq m, or 6% (2024: 56,900 sq m or 13%).

Size categories: Units above 5,001 sq m gain importance
Large units above 10,001 sq m remained the dominant size category with 159,200 sq m, or 37% (2024: 131,800 sq m or 31%). Units between 5,001 sq m and 10,000 sq m achieved 130,900 sq m, or 30%, compared with 100,200 sq m, or 24%, in the previous year. Overall, 67% of take-up was generated by deals of 5,001 sq m or more.

Units between 3,001 sq m and 5,000 sq m totalled 65,300 sq m, or 15% (2024: 100,100 sq m or 24%). Units between 1,000 sq m and 3,000 sq m reached 73,600 sq m, or 17% (2024: 77,300 sq m or 18%). Small units below 1,000 sq m continued to account for a marginal share with 6,200 sq m, or 1%.

Key figures at a glance

• Total take-up: 435,200 sq m
• Sublettings: 101,200 sq m (share: 23%)
• Prime rent: €8.50 per sq m
• Existing space: 289,700 sq m | Greenfield developments: 120,400 sq m |
  Brownfield developments: 25,100 sq m
• Tenants: 419,300 sq m | Owner-occupiers: 15,800 sq m

Press contact REALOGIS:
TARGA Communications
Jochen Goetzelmann and Arne Degener
Tel: +49 (151) 196 933 90
E-Mail: realogis@targacom.de

Company contact REALOGIS:
REALOGIS Holding GmbH
Silja Schuppler
Marketing Manager
Leopoldstraße 154, 80804 Munich
Phone: +49/89/51 55 69 17
E-mail: s.schuppler@realogis.de
www.realogis.de

REALOGIS. The No. 1 in industrial and logistics real estate
The REALOGIS Group is Germany's leading address for consulting and brokerage services for industrial and logistics real estate as well as commercial properties. As an owner-managed company with offices in Berlin, Düsseldorf, southern and northern Germany, 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 the logistics, industrial, retail and e-commerce sectors, as well as private and institutional investors. The range of services includes finding tenants for existing and new-build properties, supporting investors with acquisitions and project developments, advising on property searches or sales, and developing and implementing holistic real estate strategies, from location analysis to the utilisation of assets no longer required for business operations.