3PL footprint growth, global signal
What happened
Asian 3PLs have been expanding aggressively into U.S. industrial markets since 2024, and 3PLs drove roughly 60% of India's 26.5M SF warehousing demand in the first nine months of 2025—both signs that third‑party logistics activity remains a core driver of space needs. Those demand patterns point to sustained appetite for service‑oriented, scaleable warehouse facilities in gateway regions (x.com) (x.com).
Why it matters
Colliers reports India leased 26.5 million square feet of high‑quality warehouse space across the top eight markets during January–September 2025. (colliers.com) Those transactions were heavily clustered: Delhi‑NCR, Chennai and Mumbai together took more than 60% of that nine‑month demand. (colliers.com) In the United States, CBRE counted 78 new “bulk” warehouse leases (each 100,000 square feet or larger) by Asia‑based logistics firms in 2024, and the Inland Empire alone accounted for 28 of those bulk deals; CBRE also found Asian providers made up 42.4% of all third‑party logistics leases in the Inland Empire last year. (cbre.com) “Third‑party logistics” (companies that store, pick, pack and ship other firms’ goods) accounted for roughly one‑third of India’s 26.5 million square feet of leasing in the first nine months of 2025, though other trackers show the 3PL share varies by period (Vestian reported about a 37% share in H1 2025). (colliers.com) (vestian.com) Two operational drivers tie these moves together: cross‑border e‑commerce growth and trade/regulatory pressure. Prologis cites cross‑border platform sales rising sharply (to an estimated $44 billion in the U.S. in 2024) and notes major players scaled U.S. logistics footprints; CBRE and news outlets report China‑based e‑commerce and logistics firms represented roughly 20% of net new U.S. warehouse leasing through Q3 2024. (prologis.com) (thehill.com) CBRE also documents how those Asian lessees behaved: more than 80% picked facilities within 100 miles of a U.S. seaport, and 21% of their new bulk leases were subleases (used space rented from another tenant) compared with 12% for non‑Asian providers — signals that port proximity and flexible, short‑term capacity are central to their U.S. footprint strategy. (cbre.com)
Key numbers
- Asian 3PLs have been expanding aggressively into U.S.
- industrial markets since 2024, and 3PLs drove roughly 60% of India's 26.5M SF warehousing demand in the first nine months of 2025—both signs that third‑party logistics activity remains a core driver of space needs.
- Colliers reports India leased 26.5 million square feet of high‑quality warehouse space across the top eight markets during January–September 2025.
- (colliers.com) Those transactions were heavily clustered: Delhi‑NCR, Chennai and Mumbai together took more than 60% of that nine‑month demand.
Quick answers
What happened in 3PL footprint growth, global signal?
Asian 3PLs have been expanding aggressively into U.S. industrial markets since 2024, and 3PLs drove roughly 60% of India's 26.5M SF warehousing demand in the first nine months of 2025—both signs that third‑party logistics activity remains a core driver of space needs. Those demand patterns point to sustained appetite for service‑oriented, scaleable warehouse facilities in gateway regions (x.com) (x.com).
Why does 3PL footprint growth, global signal matter?
Colliers reports India leased 26.5 million square feet of high‑quality warehouse space across the top eight markets during January–September 2025. (colliers.com) Those transactions were heavily clustered: Delhi‑NCR, Chennai and Mumbai together took more than 60% of that nine‑month demand. (colliers.com) In the United States, CBRE counted 78 new “bulk” warehouse leases (each 100,000 square feet or larger) by Asia‑based logistics firms in 2024, and the Inland Empire alone accounted for 28 of those bulk deals; CBRE also found Asian providers made up 42.4% of all third‑party logistics leases in the Inland Empire last year. (cbre.com) “Third‑party logistics” (companies that store, pick, pack and ship other firms’ goods) accounted for roughly one‑third of India’s 26.5 million square feet of leasing in the first nine months of 2025, though other trackers show the 3PL share varies by period (Vestian reported about a 37% share in H1 2025). (colliers.com) (vestian.com) Two operational drivers tie these moves together: cross‑border e‑commerce growth and trade/regulatory pressure. Prologis cites cross‑border platform sales rising sharply (to an estimated $44 billion in the U.S. in 2024) and notes major players scaled U.S. logistics footprints; CBRE and news outlets report China‑based e‑commerce and logistics firms represented roughly 20% of net new U.S. warehouse leasing through Q3 2024. (prologis.com) (thehill.com) CBRE also documents how those Asian lessees behaved: more than 80% picked facilities within 100 miles of a U.S. seaport, and 21% of their new bulk leases were subleases (used space rented from another tenant) compared with 12% for non‑Asian providers — signals that port proximity and flexible, short‑term capacity are central to their U.S. footprint strategy. (cbre.com)
