2025 Australia Logistics Occupier Survey

Despite the uncertain global trade environment, many logistics occupiers are looking beyond short-term market volatility and positioning themselves for long-term expansion.

Our 2025 Asia Pacific Logistics Occupier Survey features insights from over 380 corporate real estate executives in the region on their business outlook, growth plans, strategic opportunities and potential challenges.  A snapshot of Australia respondents is provided in this report.

Key findings include:

• Cost pressures are driving operational recalibration
  • Rising freight, labour, and land costs are triggering portfolio reassessments and rent-sensitive decisions, with 71% of respondents cite transportation and labour as their top cost concerns.
  • Expansion is being delayed as occupiers adopt a more cautious approach to growth.
  • Initiatives with unclear ROI – including ESG features – are deprioritised in favour of measurable cost-saving strategies.
• Majority of occupiers in Australia expect to increase their logistics footprint over the medium-term
  • Expansion is focused on Eastern Seaboard cities, with preference for leasing modern facilities.
  • Growth reflects a desire for operational flexibility, favourable lease terms, and urban proximity to end-customers.
  • Most occupiers are expanding within established networks, not through market entry.  
• Improved inventory level, visibility and planning were top-ranked resilience priorities
  • ​62% of occupiers are focusing on inventory visibility and planning, alongside supplier diversification, to strengthen supply chain resilience.
  • Most respondents cite lease savings as the top driver of relocation decisions, with consolidation and transport connectivity also key.
  • 64% of occupiers seek greater clearance heights and wider column spacing to support automation.