Hamburg is the second largest European seaport with more than 10,000 logistics companies and 330,000 employees in the logistics sector, as well as Europe's No. 1 for the rail transportation of containers. Hamburg Airport, which is close to the city center, is an important transshipment point for express freight for the maritime and aviation industries, among others.
The Hamburg market for industrial and logistics space shifted significantly in favor of the city center during the first half of 2026. 74 percent of the space transacted was within the city limits, while only 26 percent was in the surrounding area. A total of approximately 200,000 square meters was transacted—a decline of 8.3 percent compared to the same period last year.
Large transactions dominated market activity, while smaller companies remained cautious. Companies are currently focusing primarily on leasing rather than purchasing, and project developments are usually carried out only after pre-leasing has been secured. The retail sector was particularly active. Its share of space transactions rose to 32 percent, while the manufacturing sector’s share fell to 16 percent. The largest transaction was Amazon’s lease of 57,500 square meters in Hamburg-East. Other major deals took place in Hamburg-South, causing both submarkets to gain significantly in importance.
Rent trends, however, remain stable: both prime rents and average rents remain unchanged at 8.50 euros per square meter and 6.50 euros per square meter, respectively.
For the full year 2026, Hamburg market experts expect space take-up of around 350,000 square meters with rents remaining stable.
