With the arrival of digital wholesale and retail players and the launch of new shopping features on social networks such as the TikTok Shop in Brazil, which allows users to buy products directly in videos and live streams and is projected to generate R$ 39 billion by 2028, the e-commerce market gains a new boost. Thus, the logistics warehouse market solidifies as one of the most attractive assets for investments in the real estate sector. Online sales are expected to reach R$ 235 billion by 2025, according to the Brazilian E-commerce Association (ABComm), which has led to a real race for modern and well-located structures, strategic targets for giants like Shopee, Mercado Livre, Amazon, and now TikTok Shop.
The competition for spaces in regions with strategic access to ports, highways, and urban centers has contributed to jumps in square meter valuation. In regions like the northern coast of Santa Catarina, the price per square meter of logistics warehouses can exceed 20% per year, according to Sort Investimentos data, a sector specialist managing R$ 3.9 billion in assets. Besides Navegantes and other areas around Itajaí, places like Araquari and Garuva, near Joinville and on the border with Paraná, close to port zones, are expected to record above-average rates.
“Among real estate assets for investments, the vacancy rate of well-structured logistics warehouses is currently the lowest in the market. Of the total we manage, especially on the coast of SC, the vacancy is less than 5%, as they are essential to meet the agility, scale, and complexity required by digital wholesale and retail,” highlights Douglas Curi, managing partner of Sort Investimentos.
According to the executive, in addition to states like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais, the state of Santa Catarina attracts logistics operators because of its infrastructure, location, and extensive service support. “In recent years, we have had significant growth in leased area and the trend is for continued growth. Those who invest now in logistics assets in the right regions may capture one of the best appreciation cycles of the decade,” highlights Curi.
Rise in imports in SC further heats up the logistics warehouses market
With a 15.3% growth in imports in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC) data, Santa Catarina strengthens its position as one of the main logistics hubs in Brazil. The state has attracted operations that were previously concentrated in ports like Santos (SP), and increase the relevance of the port complexes of Itajaí, Navegantes, and São Francisco do Sul on the national scene. “The growth of imports in the state reinforces the need for a more robust logistic infrastructure. This movement is likely to further accelerate the demand for modern warehouses in the region, especially by companies seeking agility in customs clearance and distribution of goods,” adds the executive.
