2026-05-26-莱坊-Tricity_city_attractiveness_and_office_market_Q1_2026_8页_815kb

Summary of the Document: Strong Cities - Tricity and Poland's Investment Landscape

Core Content

The document provides an in-depth analysis of the investment and office market dynamics in Tricity (Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot), as well as broader trends in Poland's investment environment for Q1 2026. It highlights the region's attractiveness for business, the current state of the office market, and the growing interest in sectors such as business services, technology, and manufacturing/logistics.

Key Highlights of Tricity

Office Market Overview

• Total Office Stock: 1.07 million sqm at the end of Q1 2026.
• Geographic Distribution:
  • Gdańsk: ~75%
  • Gdynia: ~21%
  • Sopot: ~3%
• New Supply: Minimal, with only one project completed in Q1 2026 (Punkt, 13,000 sqm), and 17,600 sqm under construction.
• Vacancy Rate: 10.8% in Q1 2026, the lowest among major regional cities.
• Leasing Activity:
  • Total take-up in Q1 2026: 49,500 sqm (up 19% qoq and 88% yoy).
  • Demand structure shifted to new leases (53% of total take-up), indicating occupier strategies changing.
  • Lease renewals declined to 43%.
  • Expansions accounted for 4.4% of total take-up.
• Sector Activity:
  • Manufacturing: 22%
  • IT: 17%
  • Logistics: 9%
  • Retail chains: 8%
• Lease Terms:
  • Service charge: PLN 18.00-31.00 per sqm per month.
  • Rent-free period: 1–1.5 months per contract year.
  • Fit-out budget: EUR 100.00–300.00 per sqm.

Investment Attractiveness of Tricity

• Rankings:
  • 1st in the European Business Services Association's "Most Dynamically Developing City in Poland 2025".
  • 3rd in the Mid-Sized European Regions of the Future 2025 rankings for FDI Strategy and Business Friendliness.
• Government Support:
  • Invest in Pomerania is a regional initiative offering free support to investors.
  • Includes assistance with administrative contact, reference visits, and economic reports.
• Economic Zones:
  • Provides employment and investment grants in the form of CIT exemptions.
• Quality of Life:
  • Gdynia and Gdańsk are recognized for their quality of life.
  • Gdańsk ranked 3rd in the Quality of Life category in the Emerging Europe Awards 2020.
  • Gdynia received a Bronze Award in the International Awards for Liveable Communities 2021.
  • Gdynia is part of the ISO 37122 certification for sustainable development.
  • Gdańsk has an air protection program and a groundwater monitoring system.
  • Gdynia has 293.7 km of bike paths and 123 sq km of green areas.
• Demographics:
  • Agglomeration population: ~760,000 (2025), forecasted to reach ~1.58 million by 2030.
  • Migration balance: +790 (2026).
  • Unemployment rate: 3.1% (Q1 2026).
  • GDP growth: 9.7%.
  • GDP per capita: PLN 89,995.
  • Average salary (gross): PLN 11,952.72 in Gdańsk (business sector, Q1 2026).
  • Education and workforce: 86,400 students, 19,521 graduates, and 24 universities.
  • Airport: 15 km from city centre, with 6,714,149 passengers in 2024.
  • Business Services Sector (BSS): 223 centres, 40,500 employed.

Poland's Investment Trends in Q1 2026

Investment Revival

• Poland is reemerging as a strong investment destination in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Investments are increasing in scale, with projects now involving several hundred to thousands of employees.
• Key Sectors:
  • Business Services & Technology: Strong growth, with a focus on cybersecurity, data analytics, automation, and AI.
  • Manufacturing & Logistics: Nearshoring is gaining traction due to geopolitical risk, supply chain resilience, and ESG compliance.
  • Defence & Dual-Use Technologies: A structural shift is observed, with companies exploring entry into defence supply chains.

Investor Sentiment

• German Investors: Poland is the top destination in the region, with 56% of respondents citing it as their preferred location (up 11% from previous year).
• US and Nordic Investors: Increasing interest, with recent projects in shared services and IT.
• Labour Market Intelligence: Rising demand for talent availability assessments, skills mapping, and workforce scalability analysis.

Key Trends and Drivers

• Infrastructure and Stability: Poland's geographic position, infrastructure, and stable business environment are key factors.
• ESG and Automation: These are reshaping the investment landscape, influencing decisions in manufacturing and logistics.
• Defence Sector Growth: Beyond traditional military production, dual-use technologies are driving innovation and investment.
• Government Support: Initiatives like Invest in Pomerania and regional economic zones are boosting attractiveness for investors.

Conclusion

Tricity is one of Poland's most mature and attractive office markets, with low vacancy rates and strong leasing demand. The region's economic development, quality of life, and government support are enhancing its appeal to both domestic and international investors. Poland as a whole is experiencing a return to scale in investment, driven by structural shifts in sectors like business services, technology, manufacturing, and logistics, alongside growing interest in defence-related opportunities. This marks a transition from cautious investment to long-term, strategic commitments.