Kolkata remains Eastern India's industrial and logistics market hub with 24 mn sq. ft. stock
New Delhi, Aug 10
Kolkata remained Eastern India's largest industrial and logistics market, with warehousing stock surpassing 24 million sq. ft. during January-June 2026, a report said on Monday.
The report from commercial real estate services firm CBRE South Asia said the milestone underscores the city's role as a manufacturing, warehousing and distribution hub supported by infrastructure investments, multimodal connectivity and growing occupier demand.
The leasing reached approximately 1.8 million sq. ft. in January-June 2026, marking a 69 per cent increase over the previous six‑month period.
"Eastern India is emerging as a key growth engine in India's industrial and logistics landscape, driven by infrastructure investments, supportive policy frameworks, and expanding manufacturing activity," said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE.
"As occupiers increasingly focus on supply chain resilience and operational efficiency, the region offers a compelling value proposition through its strategic location, improving connectivity and an evolving logistics ecosystem. These factors are expected to strengthen its appeal to both occupiers and investors in the years ahead," he added.
Kolkata's I&L absorption recorded a CAGR of 25 per cent between 2020 and 2025, with over 80 per cent of total leasing during this period occurring between 2022 and 2025. This momentum was supported by major supply additions in 2022 and 2024, which together accounted for nearly 70 per cent of post-2020 completions.
This momentum has also been backed by an estimated $170 million in I&L investment into the city between 2020 and H1 2026.
Third-party logistics (3PL) companies have led leasing activity since 2020, accounting for 35 per cent of cumulative space take-up through H1 2026, followed by e-commerce (15 per cent), retail (12 per cent), engineering and manufacturing (11 per cent) and FMCG (11 per cent).
FMCG space take-up rose 4-fold YoY, driven primarily by major F&B players, which accounted for over 70 per cent of the segment's total leasing activity.
— IANS
Reader Comments
24 million sq ft is impressive, but I hope the infrastructure keeps pace. The approach roads to many logistics parks near Dankuni and Kalyani are still quite narrow. If we want to truly compete with Chennai or Pune, need better last-mile connectivity.
The 3PL companies taking 35% of the space shows the e-commerce boom is real. Amazon and Flipkart have huge fulfillment centers around the city now. 69% jump in leasing is a solid indicator. Kolkata's location is perfect for serving the entire eastern and northeastern markets.
While this is good news, I'm a bit cautious. The report says $170 million investment between 2020-2026, but that's spread over 6 years. Compare that to what Hyderabad or Bengaluru attract in a single year. Let's not get complacent; we need much more to make a real dent.
As someone working in the logistics sector in Behala, this is spot on! The new Taratala flyover and better port connectivity have made a real difference. The FMCG 4-fold jump makes sense too - with all the food processing units coming up near Dankuni, the cold chain logistics are expanding fast. Kolkata's time has come! 🚚
Interesting to see Kolkata competing well against other Indian metros. The infrastructure investment is clearly paying off. From a global perspective, having a strong logistics hub in the east makes sense for serving Bangladesh and Southeast Asian markets too. Smart move by the government and private sector working together.
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