Prologis, in collaboration with Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, JLL, and CBRE is releasing a comprehensive snapshot of U.S. logistics real estate activity for the first quarter of 2026.

Warehouse users continue to see operational constraints rising, from labor shortages to service level imperatives. Five years ago, Prologis Research projected that warehouse automation would increase in response to the need for efficient buildings.

Demand for logistics real estate hit an inflection point, with net absorption, new lease signings, build-to-suit activity and the proposal pipeline all at healthier levels in Q3 compared to the 2024 average. The direction of demand has improved, but has not yet normalized.

After more than a decade of consistent growth, global logistics real estate rents declined by 5% in 2024 as market conditions normalized after historic growth during the pandemic.

When automation projects run over budget, it’s rarely because the technology is unpredictable. More often, late-stage adjustments occur because critical supporting elements fall outside the system contract.

What the new Reuters Events report reveals about turning logistics real estate into an energy platform.

Logistics real estate has always hinged on one principle above all: Location is paramount. For this property type, this has meant proximity to sites near major ports (sea/air), highways and labor availability.

Operators are rethinking how they measure success. KPIs are moving beyond cost and throughput to include service reliability, resilience, labor, sustainability, and even returns. 

Prologis Energy operates 10 battery storage sites across Texas. During the winter storm of January 24–26, 2026, six of those sites (totaling 60 MW and approximately 100 MWh of capacity) were activated and dispatched as ERCOT worked to keep the grid stable and homes and businesses powered. 

Wayfair and Prologis are redefining what energy resilience looks like in logistics. Together, the companies are transforming fulfillment centers into renewable energy hubs that generate and store power onsite while reducing costs, cutting emissions and creating a more sustainable supply chain.  

When DEVELON, a construction equipment manufacturer, relocated operations from Germany to Belgium, the move was about more than geography. It was a strategic step to be closer to customers, gain efficiency, and set a foundation for sustainable growth. 

A value chain focused on decarbonization is imperative, as is keeping operations running smoothly. Performance Team, a Maersk Company, tells the story of the wins and challenges as they looked to electrify their heavy-duty fleet.

At first glance, the floor inside Prologis’ Venlo DC9 in the south of the Netherlands looks like any other warehouse floor. In practice, it serves as a real-world comparison site, where innovative flooring systems—each previously used in other Prologis buildings—are evaluated side by side under forklifts, pallets and the constant demands of a working supply chain.

Logistics real estate development often helps fund major public infrastructure including road expansions, rail connectivity and stormwater systems.

Throughput has always been the defining metric inside a warehouse: units per hour, orders per shift, trucks out on time. Increasingly, AI logistics solutions are helping operators achieve warehouse throughput optimization by improving how facilities process data, labor and space.

Prologis China REIT launches to enhance logistics investments in a dynamic market, catering to growing demand in China’s economy.