ShanghaiJune 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, the “2026 Global Overseas Warehouse and Cross-Border Fulfillment Full-Chain Resource Summit,” co-hosted by the Shenzhen Logistics and Supply Chain Management Association and the Shenzhen Cross-Border E-commerce Supply Chain Service Association, concluded successfully in Shenzhen. The summit gathered over 500 industry professionals and 30 leading service providers, offering a full day of intensive insights.
Colliers (NASDAQ and TSX: CIGI), one of the world’s leading diversified professional services and investment management firms, was invited to attend the summit. The Colliers Industrial and Industrial Real Estate Services team delivered a keynote speech titled “Strategic Layout and Precise Site Selection for Overseas Warehouses,” providing professional insights and practical methodologies to help Chinese enterprises overcome core challenges in overseas warehouse expansion, such as “where to choose, how to choose, and whether to rent or build.”
The Wave of Chinese Enterprises Going Global: From “Product Export” to “Capacity Export”
Under the dual pressures of escalating trade barriers and fierce domestic market competition, Chinese enterprises are increasingly driven to explore new markets and improve profit performance by going global. Chinese manufacturing is accelerating its shift from “product export” to “capacity export.” In 2024, the growth rate of cross-border e-commerce exports reached 16.9%, continuing to serve as a new engine for foreign trade growth.
In terms of destination markets, North America and Europe remain the core markets for cross-border e-commerce exports, while Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East show significant potential as emerging markets. Key industries going global include new energy, information and communication technology, home appliances and furniture, advanced equipment manufacturing, and biosciences. The global network layout of Chinese manufacturing has largely taken shape, and new requirements for supply chain resilience are driving enterprises to move from “going out” to “standing firm.”
Current Status of Overseas Warehouse Construction by Chinese Enterprises: Rapid Scale Expansion, Coexistence of High-Rent Areas and Value Pockets
Overseas warehouses have become a crucial guarantee for the supply chain resilience of Chinese enterprises going global. Compared to the traditional “direct shipping from China” model, overseas warehouses completely reshape the spatial and temporal logic of cross-border logistics through “local stocking—ultra-fast delivery.”
According to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce, Chinese enterprises have built overseas warehouses covering over 30 million square meters globally, with more than 2,500 facilities, and the scale has continued to expand rapidly from 2022 to 2024.
Overview of Rental Rates in Key Markets:
According to Colliers’ 2025 “Global Logistics Warehouse Rental Map” (covering 72 regions in 31 countries across 5 continents), rental rates vary significantly by region. Taking the UK market as an example, logistics rental rates show a clear tiered structure: Greater London > Southeast Coast > Ireland > Mainstream Regions. Among these, the area with the greatest strategic value and cost advantage is the “Golden Triangle”—the East Midlands and West Midlands region encircled by Birmingham, Nottingham, and Leicester.
Why the “Golden Triangle”?
- Geographic Center: Adjacent to the M1/M6/M40 major highways, reaching 90% of the UK population within 4 hours, making it an ideal location for next-day delivery services;
- Market Activity: The two most densely concentrated and transaction-heavy regions for logistics warehouses in the UK;
- Cost Advantage: Operating costs (labor, rent) are approximately 41% lower than in London.
Colliers: Supporting Chinese Enterprises Going Global with Full-Chain, One-Stop Site Selection Services
Colliers’ business scope covers 90% of global regions. Facing core challenges for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas, such as “how to find warehouses, market conditions, talent recruitment, financing, and localized operations,” the company leverages its strong global network to provide clients with full-chain, one-stop site selection services from strategic consulting to transaction execution.
Selected Success Stories of Colliers Supporting Chinese Enterprises Going Global:
- Listed Company A — U.S. Factory Site Selection
- Large E-commerce Enterprise — Multi-Country Warehouse Site Selection in Europe
- Listed Company B — Mexico Factory Site Selection
- State-Owned Logistics Enterprise — Israel Warehouse Site Selection
- Food Manufacturing Company — Thailand Factory Site Selection
- Cross-Border E-commerce Enterprise — Multi-Region Warehouse Site Selection in Europe and the U.S.
- Advanced Materials Company — U.S. Factory Site Selection
- Listed Chemical Company — Poland Chemical Warehouse Site Selection
- Building Materials Company — Indonesia Factory Site Selection
- Multiple Cross-Border E-commerce Enterprises — Mexico Warehouse Site Selection
With the introduction of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative and support from domestic market policies, an increasing number of Chinese enterprises are seeking new opportunities in the global market, and the trend of Chinese enterprises going global is rapidly heating up.
For companies looking to expand overseas, obtaining the necessary professional support services is particularly crucial. Leveraging its extensive resources in the global industrial and industrial real estate sector and its international professional team, Colliers is committed to helping Chinese enterprises go global, deeply integrate into local industrial chains, and achieve stable development in the global market.