Filenews 4 September 2025
Chinese e-commerce and logistics giants such as JD.com are dynamically strengthening their presence in Europe as new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump reshape supply chains and move manufacturers to new markets.
In the U.K., Chinese companies have leased more than 2 million square feet of space in 2025, approaching pandemic record levels in 2021, according to data from CoStar. The same phenomenon is observed in the rest of Europe, with property owners receiving increased requests from Chinese groups.
The JD.com leads the onslaught
The JD.com has secured 900,000 square feet in Britain and is expanding its business with the Joybuy platform, which sells food, clothing and groceries at low prices. The company already operates a distribution centre in Coventry and has invested in facilities in Milton Keynes.
Other Chinese logistics groups, such as Super Smart Service (Zong Teng), Top Cloud Logistics and Daals (furniture chain), have also strengthened their presence.
The new reality in trade
The European market is becoming increasingly attractive as Chinese businesses seek a way out of increased U.S. tariffs. This leads to a "second wave" of demand for storage space, similar to that of the pandemic that had caused the explosion of nearshoring.
Shein has chosen Poland for large distribution centers, while CTP NV, Europe's leading industrial real estate company, is more than doubling demand from Chinese manufacturers and distributors.
Strategic investments
According to Knight Frank, Europe is the "last big market" for rapid Chinese expansion, while factors such as the closure of the Suez Canal in 2021 and the pandemic have reinforced the need for chain diversification.
CBRE's Michael Bowens comments that Chinese companies are "seeking to gain market share and are moving very fast."
