CTP is helping global firms expand in Europe through its state-of-the-art network of industrial and logistics parks across Central and Eastern Europe

Amid rising trade tariffs and ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Europe’s industrial and logistics (I&L) real estate sector is demonstrating remarkable resilience. This strength is partly driven by the growing trend of deglobalization, as companies increasingly seek to localize their supply chains and position operations closer to European markets. One region particularly well-positioned to capitalize on this shift is Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). 

CEE: A ‘Made in Europe hub’ 

On the back of supply chain vulnerability, increased carbon taxes, Trump’s tariffs, and Europe’s trade barriers on Chinese electric vehicles, introduced last year, globalization has given way to the resurgence, in Europe, of reindustrialization, the desire for regional resilience and autonomy. CEE’s proximity to Western European markets, improved infrastructure, diverse and expanding economy and strong labor market fundamentals, including a skilled and cost-effective workforce, have helped the region become a strategic location of choice for global firms looking to bring their manufacturing operations closer to European markets. 

CTP Group (CTP), Europe’s largest listed developer, owner, and manager of I&L properties by gross lettable area (GLA), is helping companies build resilient supply chains by providing them with state-of-the-art I&L business parks in key locations across CEE. With deep expertise and a long track record of delivering future-proofed I&L space from the North Sea to the Black Sea, CTP’s network of business parks covers more than 400 locations and is the cornerstone of a resilient European supply chain.  

Founded in 1998 by Remon Vos, Chief Executive, CTP has become the market leader in CEE, owning 13.4 million square meters of GLA across ten countries. The company’s tenant base comprises over 1000 different companies across a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, retail, wholesale, e-commerce, automotive and high-tech, as well as third-party logistics.  

In 25 years, CTP has grown from a start-up to become the largest publicly traded I&L developer in Europe by gross lettable area. CTP is now the leading logistics player in six key markets across CEE – Czechia, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, and Bulgaria -CTP is also expanding in Poland, where it aims to become a prominent player in the medium term, as well as in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.  

The company has seen considerable growth in recent years, buoyed by rising demand for best-in-class I&L real estate in CEE. Despite global economic headwinds, CTP leased a record 2.1 million square meters in 2024, seven percent more than the previous year, which illustrates the continued strong demand in CEE for leading I&L facilities. On the back of strong economic growth and demand, CTP aims to double the size of its pan-European network to 20 million square meters of GLA by the end of 2030 and reach over 1.2 billion of annualized rental income, while continuing to deliver at an industry-leading double-digit yield on cost. 

Building long-term relationships with clients 

CTP’s unique model means it develops, owns, and operates I&L business parks. From site selection, design, and construction to fit out and long-term property management, CTP is a full-service real estate partner with in-house teams covering each stage of the client relationship. The company acts as a strategic partner to its tenants and grows with them as their business expands.  

Because it is a custodian of its I&L business parks, CTP thinks long-term, developing sustainably, and building trust and enduring relationships with tenants and stakeholders. On average around 70 percent of new leases are signed with tenants from its existing customer base.  

The company develops parks that are embedded in local communities, working to create a positive environment for clients to grow, and encouraging healthy networks between all stakeholders and local communities with the goal of improving the quality of life for all involved. CTP invests in local communities, provides financial support for local charities and educational initiatives, and invests in local infrastructure and biodiversity, as well as supporting initiatives to improve health and wellbeing.  

Putting people first has always been central to the company’s credo. Its parks aim to enhance quality of life in the workplace and improve wellbeing by providing beautiful landscaping and outdoor spaces, as well as ample amenities and facilities. Commitment to the community runs deep. CTP goes the extra mile to make its parks people friendly and inclusive. Its Clubhaus community centers provide a mixed-use facility for employees of its customers and local people, functioning as a focal point and helping to foster deeper community relations. 

Helping global companies grow in Europe 

The company’s deep local knowledge and relationships in key markets means it can help companies find a location in Europe, supporting them in navigating the European regulatory landscape and easing local entry barriers. CTP also provides a full suite of real estate services: it will design and build a high tech and sustainable asset to suit client requirements; and then as a landlord as well as a developer, the company owns, operates and actively manages the building over the long-term, meaning customers do not need to commit to a capital investment in the property. This unique model means the businesses that occupy its parks can focus solely on driving their own growth. 

CTP works closely with businesses coming to Europe. For example, across its portfolio, it has helped multiple Asian companies nearshore to CEE. For example, at CTPark Blučina in the Czech Republic, the company is building a new 52,000-square-meter, build-to-suit facility for Inventec, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer which supplies some of the world’s largest automotive companies.  

In the last month of 2024, CTP completed an agreement with Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing Co, a leading Chinese supplier of automotive parts and systems, for 19,000 square meters of warehouse and office space in Serbia. When the park is operational in December 2025, the facility will supply chassis parts for BMW. It is the Chinese company’s first foothold in Europe and a prime example of nearshoring in a facility 100 kilometers from the EU border. 

Sustainable supply chains fit for the future 

It’s not just deglobalization that is reshaping I&L real estate, but also the need to decarbonize supply chains. This is driving the growing demand for highly sustainable I&L business parks. CTP has long been an industry leader when to comes to sustainability. The company built the first BREEAM Outstanding certified building outside the UK in 2013 and was the first European I&L developer to undertake BREEAM certification for its entire portfolio, comprising over 200 buildings. CTP certifies all new buildings to at least BREEAM Very Good standard and earned a negligible-risk ESG rating by Sustainalytics, underlining its commitment to being a sustainable business. In line with the Paris Agreement, the company’s long-term goal is to be fully carbon neutral; not just operationally, but through the entire asset lifecycle.   

CTP strives to not just minimize its impact, but to improve the environment where it’s located, benefiting customers and local communities. Highly sustainable buildings and a commitment to rolling out renewable energy generation on its sites means it can lower the carbon footprint of its clients, helping them meet their own ESG goals.  

CTParks feature smart building technology that measures energy consumption in real-time, giving a clear picture of how a building is performing. This helps to identify ways to improve energy efficiency, saving customers money and reducing the impact on the environment. To ensure its buildings are operating to the highest sustainability standards, the company also introduced ISO certification for environmental and energy management systems. Always targeting ‘no net loss’ biodiversity on all its sites, CTP aims, where possible, to enhance the local ecological footprint by supporting local initiatives to improve the natural environment as well as investing in community infrastructure.  

Additionally, the company is rapidly expanding the generation of renewable energy across its portfolio and has established its own energy company to oversee an ambitious program of solar POV installation. The long-term plan is to develop completely energy independent industrial parks, with all energy used onsite generated within the park and excess energy supplied to local electricity networks or other CTParks.  

Increasingly, brownfield land development and refurbishing existing assets through sustainable retrofit are seen as the way forward when to comes to decarbonizing I&L real estate. CTP’s land bank acquisitions, especially in Germany, have increasingly been brownfields and the company has built up considerable expertise in developing this type of site. Redeveloping in this way has considerable advantages when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint and wider environmental impact of a project and these sites also often boast good intercity connections and already have available services, including power. 

Addressing sustainability and providing facilities that match the discerning future demands of logistics providers and high-tech businesses takes considerable long-term investment. As an owner and developer, CTP has the ideal structure to facilitate this, allowing it to be a custodian for its developments over many years, ensuring that as its tenants grow and their needs evolve, it can provide sustainable solutions for them.    

With global megatrends such as nearshoring and reshoring only expected to accelerate, increasing demand for the regionalization of supply chains and driving growth of high-tech manufacturing in Europe, the ability of the I&L sector to respond quickly to changing customers’ needs is critical. By providing customers with a full-service real estate offering – and as the long-term custodian of its parks – CTP is ideally placed to support customers in a fast-changing world. With an extensive land bank, CTP can quickly find its clients space to grow, developing state-of-the-art facilities tailored to a customer’s unique needs, ensuring they can attract and retain the best people, and helping them take advantage of the growth opportunities that Europe now presents.  

www.ctp.eu