Retail Leasing Touches 3.1 Million sq ft in Q1 2026

13 May 2026 CW Team

Healthy demand also led to a 40-basis point drop in mall vacancy levels, with overall vacancy reducing from 12.3% in the previous quarter to 11.9%. JLL attributed the quarterly moderation largely to the absence of sizeable new mall supply following a strong 2.5 million sq ft infusion in Q4 2025. Only 0.25 million sq ft of new mall supply was added in Q1 2026, taking total retail stock to 92.4 million sq ft.

“India’s retail sector is navigating a pivotal transition with remarkable agility. First quarter’s 3.1 million sq. ft leasing, anchored by a 48% high street surge and domestic retailers commanding 79% market share, reflects strategic format diversification as supply constraints drive innovation,” said Rahul Arora, Head - Office Leasing & Retail Services, Senior Managing Director (Karnataka, Kerala), India, JLL.

With limited mall supply, high streets emerged as the leading leasing format, accounting for 48% of transactions, while malls contributed 40%. Mumbai led leasing activity with a 26% share, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi NCR at 21% each. Together, the three cities accounted for 68% of total leasing. Kolkata captured 10%, while Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune contributed 9%, 7% and 6% respectively.

Fashion and apparel continued to dominate category demand, while entertainment emerged as the second-largest segment with a 16% share. Food and beverage followed at 15%, reflecting sustained expansion by restaurant and café operators.

Domestic retailers contributed 79% of total leasing, driven by strong activity from D2C brands. International retailers also recorded a 48% year-on-year rise in leasing, supported by India’s growing consumption demand.

JLL noted that a 46.1 million sq ft institutional-grade pipeline is expected between 2026 and 2030, positioning India’s retail market for a major growth cycle over the coming years.

India’s retail sector recorded steady demand in Q1 2026, with gross leasing reaching 3.1 million sq ft across the top seven cities, according to JLL. While leasing activity moderated 15% quarter-on-quarter due to limited new institutional-grade mall supply, it still posted a marginal 1% year-on-year rise, indicating continued resilience in retailer expansion.Healthy demand also led to a 40-basis point drop in mall vacancy levels, with overall vacancy reducing from 12.3% in the previous quarter to 11.9%. JLL attributed the quarterly moderation largely to the absence of sizeable new mall supply following a strong 2.5 million sq ft infusion in Q4 2025. Only 0.25 million sq ft of new mall supply was added in Q1 2026, taking total retail stock to 92.4 million sq ft.“India’s retail sector is navigating a pivotal transition with remarkable agility. First quarter’s 3.1 million sq. ft leasing, anchored by a 48% high street surge and domestic retailers commanding 79% market share, reflects strategic format diversification as supply constraints drive innovation,” said Rahul Arora, Head - Office Leasing & Retail Services, Senior Managing Director (Karnataka, Kerala), India, JLL.With limited mall supply, high streets emerged as the leading leasing format, accounting for 48% of transactions, while malls contributed 40%. Mumbai led leasing activity with a 26% share, followed by Bengaluru and Delhi NCR at 21% each. Together, the three cities accounted for 68% of total leasing. Kolkata captured 10%, while Hyderabad, Chennai and Pune contributed 9%, 7% and 6% respectively.Fashion and apparel continued to dominate category demand, while entertainment emerged as the second-largest segment with a 16% share. Food and beverage followed at 15%, reflecting sustained expansion by restaurant and café operators.Domestic retailers contributed 79% of total leasing, driven by strong activity from D2C brands. International retailers also recorded a 48% year-on-year rise in leasing, supported by India’s growing consumption demand.JLL noted that a 46.1 million sq ft institutional-grade pipeline is expected between 2026 and 2030, positioning India’s retail market for a major growth cycle over the coming years.

Building Material

11 Jun 2026

Enlight Metals to Expand Raipur Plant Capacity

Enlight Metals has announced plans to expand the production capacity of its Raipur manufacturing facility from around 1,200 tonnes to nearly 4,000 tonnes.The expansion is aimed at strengthening the company’s ability to serve rising demand across industrial, infrastructure and contract manufacturing requirements.Located in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, the facility serves as a key manufacturing hub for Enlight Metals. The planned capacity enhancement is expected to improve supply capabilities, operational efficiency and the company’s ability to handle larger project requirements.The facility includ..

Infrastructure Urban

11 Jun 2026

Hindustan Zinc Partners Sulfozyme for Zinc Park Project

Hindustan Zinc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sulfozyme Agro India under its Zinc Industrial Park initiative at Khankhala in Bhilwara district, Rajasthan. The partnership aims to strengthen India’s downstream zinc sector through sustainable metal recovery, resource efficiency and industrial development.Under the agreement, Sulfozyme Agro will establish proposed operations at the Zinc Industrial Park to process zinc-based materials into value-added products for industrial and downstream applications.Hindustan Zinc will support the venture through assured raw material linkage an..

Infrastructure Urban

11 Jun 2026

Cortec MCI Technology Restores Croatia Monuments

Cortec’s Migrating Corrosion Inhibitor technology has been used in restoration works for historic monuments in Croatia, including the Church of St Donatus in Zadar and the medieval city walls of Ilok.The Church of St Donatus, one of the most significant pre-Romanesque churches in Europe, is listed in the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia and is under UNESCO protection. The monument required urgent rehabilitation after 3D scanning analysis identified critical issues in the church walls, main structure and roof.The reinforced concrete support structure beneath the roof, ins..