Top 5 Markets for Industrial Deliveries

The U.S. industrial sector showed slowing signs in the first six months of 2024. Construction starts fell to less than half of completions, with 97.8 million square feet of industrial space underway, according to CommercialEdge. Following two years of record activity, the top markets for industrial deliveries saw activity decelerate and new supply is expected to decrease as well in coming years, though the long-term outlook remains strong.

Nationally, only about 209 million square feet of industrial space came online, well below the 262.3 million square feet delivered during the same time frame in 2023. Numbers actually came in closer to figures recorded during the first half of 2022, when 204 million square feet came online.

The following list showcases the leading five markets for industrial deliveries in the first half of 2024, ordered by total square footage added to inventory. These metros contributed more than 35 percent of all new stock nationwide—about 74.2 million square feet.

1. Dallas-Fort Worth

Leading the list, the Dallas-Fort Worth metro stands as a key destination for investors due to its advantageous location, ongoing infrastructure projects and tax abatements. In the first half of the year, the Metroplex saw 20.6 million square feet in industrial deliveries across 65 projects. This represents roughly 10 percent of the total square footage delivered nationwide. Additionally, the market’s under-construction pipeline at the end of June comprised 15.7 million square feet—or 1.6 percent of total market inventory.

However, deliveries shrunk more than three times compared to the first half of 2023—when some 65.9 million square feet came online across 186 developments. This figure also accounts for roughly half of the completions achieved during the same period in 2022.

The market's industrial landscape is also experiencing significant growth driven by the increase in cold storage facilities, positioning itself as a key refrigerated warehousing market. Since early 2022, 3.7 million square feet of cold storage space have been developed, leading the nation once again.

2. The Inland Empire

In recent years, the Inland Empire has seen a surge in new supply coming online. Supported by a strong logistics network, an uptick in manufacturing investment and a growing need for distribution centers, the metro’s industrial sector remains vibrant and resilient. In the first half of the year, 52 properties came online totaling more than 18.7 million square feet—accounting for almost 9 percent of all national completions.

However, increased construction costs and supply chain challenges are taking a toll on industrial deliveries. The market’s completion pipeline decreased by almost 30 percent year-over-year. In 2023’s first half, 26.4 million square feet came online across 108 projects.

One of the largest developments that will considerably increase the metro’s inventory is a 6.6 million-square-foot industrial campus, developed by Hillwood Investment Properties and a CBRE Investment Management fund, that will feature larger-scale facilities. Earlier this year, the developer obtained a $756 million construction financing package for the project dubbed Speedway Commerce Center.

3. Phoenix

The Valley of the Sun saw 17.9 million square feet delivered year-to-date as of June. The metro led for number of completed developments, with 91 projects coming online. Compared to the last couple of years’ same interval, this marks a significant decline. In 2023, some 33.3 million square feet were completed, while 2022 saw 25.4 million square feet delivered.

However, the market continues to attract larger-scale investments. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plans to invest $65 billion for the construction of a third fab in the metro. The company received $6.6 billion under the CHIPS and Science Act for the already-underway advanced manufacturing complex.

Additionally, the metro’s under-construction pipeline was the largest nationally as of June. A total of 39.1 million square feet were underway—around 9.8 percent of existing stock.

4. Chicago

The metro’s enhanced logistical benefits have drawn substantial investments from major e-commerce firms, leading to the establishment of advanced fulfillment centers to capitalize on its strategic location.

Industrial deliveries in metro Chicago year-to-date as of June totaled 8.8 million square feet, an almost 70 percent decline year-over-year, the largest decrease among the top five markets on this list. In 2023’s first half, Chicago saw 79 developments coming online, which added about 29 million square feet to inventory.

The 22 projects delivered in the first six months of the year accounted for 4.2 percent of all national completions. However, the metro is anticipated to expand its inventory considerably, with 10.3 million square feet of industrial space currently under development.

The market’s industrial landscape will continue evolving and changing. Last month, CRG and Related Midwest announced the development of a 400-acre master-planned development that will include the nation’s first commercially useful “utility-scale” quantum computer.

5. Austin

Austin’s industrial market is experiencing a surge in new facilities due to rapid population growth and economic expansion, driving strong demand for distribution and logistics. The influx of technology companies and the city’s burgeoning status as a tech hub have attracted significant investments, leading to a steady pipeline of industrial projects.

Year-to-date as of June, Austin registered 8.1 million square feet of space coming online across 62 projects. This accounted for less than 4 percent of the total completions on a national scale.

However, industrial deliveries only dropped roughly 18 percent year-over-year, the smallest decline among the top five markets. Compared to 2022, when the metro’s deliveries reached 11.3 million square feet in the first half of the year, completions declined by almost 30 percent.