According to JLL’s white paper titled “China’s Top 5: From World-Class Cities to World-Class City Clusters,” the investment opportunities in commercial real estate in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) are expected to accelerate.

The GBA has established a modern industrial system with modern finance, logistics, and smart manufacturing as its core, driven by technological innovation for economic development. The report also highlights that the density of highways and railway networks in the five major city clusters exceeds the national average, offering diverse and multi-level investment opportunities in commercial real estate.

To capitalize on the investment opportunities in logistics real estate in the GBA, we can analyze different strategies divided into two parts:

Firstly, we delve into market demand, geographical locations, and technological innovation.

• In-depth research on market and demand:

In-depth research on market demand involves understanding the logistics market’s demand and supply chain environment in the GBA, particularly in key areas like modern finance, modern logistics, and smart manufacturing. This understanding will help identify the most promising geographical locations and logistics real estate projects.

It is projected that by the end of 2025, mainland China will witness the introduction of over 37.98 million square meters of high-standard warehouses. In the southern region, increased supply pressure will result in more vacant spaces in the market, making landlords more inclined to rent their fixed assets to high-efficiency and high-value tenants or industries, such as e-commerce and third-party logistics.

• Superior geographical locations:

Choosing superior geographical locations involves considering investments in logistics real estate near transportation hubs like ports, airports, and railway stations. The GBA boasts a higher density of highways and railway networks compared to the national average, providing better connectivity and transportation convenience for logistics real estate.

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is actively enhancing infrastructure construction and modernizing its transportation system through projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, high-speed railways, expressways, and the Smart Logistics Alliance in the Greater Bay Area. These initiatives foster connections and cooperation between cities and drive economic development and prosperity throughout the region, unlocking abundant economic potential on the western bank of the Pearl River by establishing a “one-hour accessibility” concept.

• Technological innovation:

Lastly, focusing on technological innovation is crucial as the Greater Bay Area thrives on technological advancements. It is essential to pay attention to the development trends of logistics technology, including the application of technologies like the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence in the logistics industry. Seeking out technology and solutions applicable to logistics real estate will enhance competitiveness.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where we will analyze industry strategies.