European logistics sector faces rising space demand and heightened cargo theft risk

In the first quarter of 2026 the Belgian logistics real‑estate market recorded a 7% increase in space taken up, outpacing most of Europe. The Netherlands saw a 41% quarterly rise and the United Kingdom a 14% gain, while overall European investment volumes in logistics property fell 45% quarter‑on‑quarter. Belgium’s investment volume was 89% lower than a year earlier, with the Netherlands down 59% and France down 69%. Analysts warn that higher energy costs, waning consumer confidence and a slowdown in industrial production could curb goods flows later in the year.

Cargo theft remained a persistent threat across Europe in 2025. Germany accounted for 27% of reported incidents, followed by Italy (13%), the United Kingdom (9%), France (6%) and Spain (6%). Hotspots include North‑Rhine Westphalia, Bavaria and Lower Saxony in Germany, and the M1 and A1 corridors in the UK, where a shortage of roughly 11,000 secure parking places contributed to losses of about $149 million in 2024. Overall, 33% of thefts occurred at warehouses, 15% at parking sites and 11% at rest areas. Common targets were electronics, food and beverage products, and clothing. Experts expect criminal networks to adopt more sophisticated fraud techniques in 2026.