The industrial and logistics segment continues to consolidate its position as one of the pillars of the Iberian real estate market. This is reflected in the latest CBRE Property Management report for the first quarter of 2026, which analyses the operational performance of industrial and logistics assets managed by the firm in Spain and Portugal through indicators such as occupancy, rents, lease duration and sector composition.
The study is based on a comparable sample of 5,198,349 square metres across 247 assets, representing more than 75% of the GLA managed by CBRE in both countries. It is therefore not a complete picture of the entire Iberian market, but rather a highly representative sample of the company’s managed portfolio, useful for understanding how the segment is performing from an operational standpoint.
Spain maintains very high occupancy levels
In Spain, the report analyses 191 assets totalling 4,001,077 square metres of comparable space. The data reflects a very solid operating base, with 93.7% occupancy, confirming the strength of demand for this type of asset within the sample analysed.
Another particularly relevant indicator is the WAULT (Weighted Average Unexpired Lease Term), which in Spain stands at 7.4 years. This figure suggests a well-distributed lease structure over time and provides relatively high visibility over the future income generated by the assets. The average net rent reaches €4.4/m², while the debt associated with the analysed portfolio stands at around 3%, a contained level that reinforces the perception of financial stability.
CBRE also highlights that, over the last 12 months, leasing activity has been evenly distributed between new leases and renewals, with transactions concentrated in just over a quarter of the analysed portfolio. The average duration of new leases exceeds 7 years, while renewals remain above 3 years, helping to sustain income stability over the medium term.
From a sector perspective, occupied space in Spain is mainly concentrated in transport and distribution, which accounts for 45.7% of the total. This is followed by supermarkets, DIY and home improvement, with 11.5%, and the group of other sectors, with 8.5%. This distribution reflects the structural weight of logistics linked to distribution and consumption within the Spanish industrial market.
Portugal combines strong activity with greater sector diversification
In Portugal, the report analyses 56 assets with a total surface area of 1,197,272 square metres. Occupancy stands at 90.3%, confirming a high level of activity as well, although with slightly more operational headroom than in Spain.
The WAULT reaches 4.8 years, while the average net rent stands at €4.1/m². In this case, the debt level rises to 3.5%, still within prudent parameters. In terms of leasing activity, the dynamic is similar to Spain: new leases exceed an average duration of 7 years, while renewals average around 3.1 years, combining contractual stability with the flexibility to adapt to occupier needs.
A more visible difference does appear in the sector composition of demand. Although transport and distribution remains the leading segment, accounting for 39.9% of occupied space, Portugal shows a higher relative weight of retail chains, representing 19.6%, and supermarkets, DIY and home improvement, with 9%. This points to greater sector diversification in the use of the analysed logistics and industrial assets.
A segment with operational visibility and long-term leases
Beyond the comparison between both markets, the report conveys a clear message: within the sample analysed by CBRE, the industrial and logistics segment offers a resilient operating base, with high occupancy levels, relatively long lease terms and contained debt levels.
This does not mean that the entire market behaves in the same way or that the segment is free from risk. However, it does suggest that, in an environment where many investors prioritise income visibility and contractual stability, this type of asset continues to offer particularly valued attributes: high occupancy, a tenant base linked to transport, distribution and consumption, and a lease expiry structure that favours predictability.
Strength and quality
The beginning of 2026 confirms that industrial and logistics remains one of the strongest segments of the Iberian real estate market, at least from the operational perspective offered by CBRE Property Management’s comparable sample. In Spain, this strength is reflected in 93.7% occupancy and a WAULT of 7.4 years; in Portugal, in 90.3% occupancy and greater sector diversification.
In a market where income quality and asset stability are becoming increasingly important, logistics and industrial assets continue to offer an attractive proposition for owners and investors. The key, as is often the case in real estate, lies not only in the segment itself, but in the quality of the assets, the composition of their tenants and the real operational strength they are capable of sustaining.
