Brisbane industrial market will continue to see strong demand in 2020: HTW Industrial

Brisbane industrial market will continue to see strong demand in 2020: HTW Industrial
Staff reporterDecember 7, 2020

Brisbane’s industrial property investment market experienced strong growth throughout 2019, with firm yields reflecting the limited availability of quality stock and solid purchaser demand, according to the February report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.

They found, whilst demand for quality industrial assets remains extremely strong, particularly for well-located properties with long-term leases and strong lease covenants, secondary properties continue to see long lease up periods and are generally less attractive in the current market. 2019 saw a shift in the Brisbane industrial market with institutional purchasers beginning to focus on areas such as the TradeCoast and along the Logan corridor.

Throughout the latter parts of 2018 and 2019, demand for industrial development sites throughout Brisbane increased substantially with increases in value evident across a number of industrial precincts.

Whilst there are still difficulties in obtaining development finance from financial institutions, this does not seem to have restricted demand in recent times.

Since the federal election in 2019 there has been a slight increase in sales volumes.

The valuers said, "we expect to see this sales activity continue to strengthen throughout 2020 due to the low interest rate environment and lack of supply within the wider Brisbane area."

"Rents continue to stay steady with no dramatic increases, particularly for net effective rentals,as incentives continue to rise. The most active segment of the market will continue to be transport and logistics with tenants gravitating towards modern properties with good access to motorways."

"The total number and value of sales fell in 2016. This was primarily due to a shortfall in supply of quality industrial assets, however sales picked up again in 2017."

"We saw a similar fall in sales in 2018 which carried over to a slower start in 2019. Since the federal election in 2019 there has been an increase in sales volumes."

"It is expected that stronger sales activity will continue throughout 2020 due to the low interest rate environment, however we do note that investors are holding on to well leased, quality assets due to the lower risk profile these properties offer."

"Investment yields for high quality assets continue to trend closer towards 6.00% with an example of a major transaction being 39 Graystone Street, Tingalpa, a well sought after location within the TradeCoast. The property had a 4.57 year lease term and transacted at $17.6 million with an analysied yield of 6.34%."

"2020 will continue to see a high demand for prime industrial properties with money coming from mum and dad investors through to major industrial institutional trusts," they concluded.

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