The growth of e-commerce in Brazil has transformed the logistics real estate market and turned industrial warehouses into highly sought-after strategic assets by giants like Shopee, Mercado Livre, and Amazon. With the vacancy rate reaching only 8.10% in the last quarter of 2024, according to Buildings, a leading company in real estate market intelligence, and billion-dollar investments in infrastructure, the sector is experiencing a boom that is redefining the distribution chain in the country. There are cases where the vacancy rate was even lower, such as theSort Investments, specialized in the sector, which had an impressive percentage of 0.5% in the period and a value per square meter that exceeds R$5,500, with a projected appreciation of 20% by the end of this year.
The accelerated expansion of Shopee's operations, which in just five years has seen a 5,000% growth in logistics space occupancy, is a direct reflection of this transformation. According to Buildings, the retail giant already rents 717,000 m² across 68 locations spread throughout the country, with 622,000 m² already in operation. New facilities in Itajaí, Guarulhos, Caxias, and the Federal District show that the retailer has been aggressively expanding its distribution network.
Sort Investimentos has a strong presence throughout the state of Santa Catarina, especially in the cities of Itajaí, Navegantes, Araquari, and Garuva, considered strategic for the installation of large logistics distribution centers. The privileged location of these regions, combined with quality port and road infrastructure, has attracted the attention of major market players.
“The logistics market has become one of the most strategic sectors for investors seeking high profitability and asset security. The projected increase in demand in the coming months indicates that this is the ideal time to invest, since the trend is for an even faster appreciation of these assets. We are facing a unique opportunity, in which the growth of e-commerce, combined with the scarcity of available spaces, should drive a new cycle of appreciation in the logistics sector”, says Douglas Curi, specialist in the area and partner at Sort Investimentos.
In the last quarter, the company's negotiations totaled over R$70 million, a 30% increase compared to the previous period. Currently, the company manages R$ 8 billion in assets, with R$ 3.5 billion in logistics warehouses alone, totaling over 553,000 square meters.
The war for square meters
If Shopee is racing to establish itself, Mercado Livre already dominates this segment, with a stock of 2.4 million m² spread across 74 industrial facilities in Brazil, according to Buildings data. The Argentine giant has been continuously expanding its operations, investing in new logistics centers to maintain its leadership position.
“With the strengthening of infrastructure and the arrival of new international players, we are just at the beginning of a complete reconfiguration of Brazilian logistics. In this scenario, Triple A warehouses, with advanced technology and high operational efficiency, should become the most valued assets of the next decade”, he concludes.
