Asia Pacific Market Snapshot Q2 2021 (Colliers)

The ongoing recovery in key property markets across Asia Pacific continued in the second quarter of 2021 and looks set to sustain through the second half, aided by strong demand for commercial assets from end-users as well as investors.

In China, a total of 30 deals were finalised across major markets, as both domestic and foreign market participants sought to acquire key assets across property segments. Korea continued to witness record-high unit prices for prime office space in Seoul, and Japan’s property markets remained buoyant in the face of stringent restrictions. In Singapore, investment activity was dominated by the privatisation of REITs, while in India, global private equity (PE) firms and developers made significant acquisitions in metro markets. Taiwan witnessed a surge in demand for commercial property from manufacturers on the back of strong export growth. In the Philippines, e-commerce companies and outsourcing firms took up space in data centres while healthcare and logistics companies should lead office take-up in the coming months. Thailand’s office market remained stable though its troubled hospitality industry could see higher transaction levels as beleaguered owners look to sell assets. We also expect to see more joint ventures between Thai and international investors across sectors. In Indonesia, the residential sector is expected to receive a boost from the extension of a tax waiver while urban mixed-use projects in the capital, Jakarta, received an influx of foreign funds as investors bet on a speedy post-COVID-19 recovery.