CBRE has found that Kolkata's industrial and logistics warehousing stock has crossed 24 million square feet (24 mn sq ft), making it the largest such inventory in East India. The tally reflects cumulative completions across the city and its peripheral industrial belts over recent years. Key peripheral belts and industrial corridors have accounted for a substantial share of recent completions. The development underscores Kolkata's emergence as a regional logistics hub.

The growth has been driven by demand from manufacturing and e-commerce companies seeking improved distribution networks and proximity to consumer markets, CBRE noted. Improved road and rail connectivity and investments in cold chain and third party logistics facilities have supported absorption of new space. Developers have responded with a mix of large format warehouses and smaller multi-tenant units to cater to varied occupier needs. Leasing activity has concentrated in locations offering multimodal connectivity and larger parcel sizes.

Institutional investors and private capital have shown interest in the city as yields compress in more mature markets, leading to greater capital availability for logistics projects. Grade A built-to-suit and speculative schemes have risen in proportion, improving the quality of available stock and logistics capabilities. Vacancy levels have adjusted as occupancy increases in key submarkets without sharp pressure on headline rents. Financing has come from a mix of local developers and institutional funds, supporting project delivery.

The report projects that continued manufacturing expansion and domestic consumption trends will sustain demand for organised warehousing in the medium term. Occupiers appear to be prioritising proximity to transport nodes and last mile connectivity when selecting space. The report signals a maturing industrial real estate ecosystem in Kolkata that is attracting a broader set of logistics and supply chain players. Occupiers and logistics providers see the scale of organised space as an enabler of faster distribution.