New Delhi [India], September 28 (ANI): India is fast becoming the top choice for third-party logistics (3PL) firms in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with nearly 70 per cent of occupiers planning to expand in the country within the next two years, according to a report by CBRE.
3PL providers manage end-to-end supply chain and logistics operations for their clients, enabling businesses to focus on their core operations. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO for India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa at CBRE, noted that India’s rapid economic growth and resilience amid global uncertainties make it a prime investment destination. “Fuelled by resilient economic growth, India is emerging as a premier destination for warehousing expansion among businesses. In the 2025 APAC Logistics Occupier Survey, 83% of India-based 3PL respondents stated that their business performance would improve over the next 24 months,” he said.
The report highlighted that around 80 per cent of India-based 3PL firms plan to expand their portfolios by more than 10 per cent in the next two to five years, driven by growth in e-commerce, quick commerce, and emerging non-tier-I markets. Between 2021 and 2024, 3PL companies accounted for 40–50 per cent of leasing activity in India’s logistics real estate sector, with over 30 per cent in H1 2025 alone.
There is also a growing shift towards asset-light strategies, with over 60 per cent of surveyed India-based 3PL firms opting for space in multi-tenanted buildings rather than constructing their own facilities. Build-to-suit developments (28 per cent) and purchasing existing assets (22 per cent) follow as preferred expansion methods.
Technological adoption is another key trend, with around 76 per cent of firms integrating warehouse management software. Advanced solutions such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, conveyor systems, Goods-to-Person picking, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS), and robotic arms are gaining traction to improve efficiency, inventory management, and throughput.
Delhi-NCR emerged as the largest 3PL hub, accounting for 25 per cent of total industrial and logistics (I&L) leasing activity since 2021, followed by Mumbai (24 per cent) and Bengaluru (16 per cent). Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad round out the top six, collectively representing nearly 70 per cent of 3PL leasing activity between 2021 and 2025 YTD.
This trend underscores India’s growing stature as a strategic logistics hub in the APAC region, driven by its robust economic fundamentals, rapid technological adoption, and expanding demand for scalable, future-ready warehousing.
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