Cushman & Wakefield sees Australia industrial vacancy normalizing as occupier leverage improves

• Cushman & Wakefield flagged a rebalancing in Australia’s industrial market in 2026 as vacancies normalize, improving tenant leverage.
• Vacancy rose to 4.2% in Melbourne, 3.7% in Sydney, 3.5% in Brisbane; Perth stayed tight at 2.2%, Adelaide at 2.7%.
• Prime rent growth slowed to 2.8% nationally, the weakest pace since late 2020; incentives widened to 12.5%-23% in Sydney, up to 30% in Melbourne.
• Demand remained resilient, with 675,000 sqm leased in Sydney, 770,000 sqm in Melbourne in the first half.
• Developers turned more cautious as pipelines shrink, shifting toward pre-lease-led projects; the firm warned supply could tighten again within two to three years.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Cushman & Wakefield Ltd. published the original content used to generate this news brief on July 21, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.