Top Midwestern Markets for Industrial Deliveries

The heartland stands as a powerhouse of industrial activity, where cities and strategic locations form an unrivaled landscape for commercial logistics. With its robust transportation infrastructure and a history deeply rooted in manufacturing and distribution, the Midwestern region has emerged as a focal point for industrial growth.

On a regional level, 63.3 million square feet of industrial space was completed during the first eight months of 2023, CommercialEdge data shows. This accounts for a 39.1 percent increase from the volume recorded during the same time in 2022, when industrial deliveries amounted to 39.1 million square feet, and a 43 percent increase when compared to 2021, when 44.3 million square feet came online.

Notwithstanding a wide array of economic hurdles, industrial construction exhibited resilience well throughout the year, demonstrating remarkable performance. To be precise, some 22.6 million square feet of industrial space broke ground year-to-date in August.

From the crossroads of Chicago to the innovative spirit of Columbus, Ohio, these Midwestern cities are shaping the future of the region’s industrial sector. CommercialEdge highlights the top markets for industrial deliveries year-to-date in August based on the total square footage added to the inventory. The five most active markets accounted for almost 60 percent of industrial completions within the region.

1. Chicago

Chicago remains a top industrial market due to its strategic geographical location at the heart of the U.S. supply chain. The city's logistical advantages have only strengthened over time, while major e-commerce players such as Amazon and Walmart have invested heavily in state-of-the-art fulfillment centers within the metro to tap into this strategic advantage.

The most-active metro in terms of industrial construction activity added some 11 million square feet of space year-to-date in August, or 17.4 percent of total stock. Chicago also topped the list in terms of number of projects, with 33 developments coming online during the same timeframe.

Construction activity in Chicago was the highest in the region and managed to top previous years’ industrial deliveries, which encompassed 8.8 million square feet during the first eight months of 2022. Completions were up 25.6 percent compared to last year’s values and a slight 1.9 percent compared to the same time in 2021, when deliveries amounted to 10.8 million square feet.

Meanwhile, construction starts in the metro year-to-date in August totaled 7.9 million square feet. This represents a 37.8 percent increase from the 5.7 million square feet started during the same time in 2022.

2. Indianapolis

Indianapolis’ central location within the U.S. makes it a pivotal logistics and distribution hub, prompting key players like FedEx, Amazon and UPS to have and build major fulfillment centers within the metro, further enhancing its reputation as a thriving industrial market with a strong focus on logistics and e-commerce operations.

Year-to-date in August, the metro added a little over 10.5 million square feet across 21 properties to its inventory, accounting for 16.7 percent of total stock. Developers added 20.2 percent more industrial space compared to the first eight months of 2022, when some 8.8 million square feet was completed. Furthermore, this year's deliveries have outpaced 2021 completions by a substantial 44.7 percent, when roughly 7.3 million square feet of industrial space came online.

An additional 3.3 million square feet of industrial space commenced construction year-to-date in August, according to CommercialEdge. This marked a remarkable 153.8 percent increase compared to the 1.3 million square feet that broke ground during the same period in 2022.

3. Kansas City

What sets Kansas City apart is its unique status as a "railroad town" with two major rail hubs—Union Pacific and BNSF—converging here, making it a vital center for intermodal transportation. This robust infrastructure supports a wide array of industries, from agriculture to manufacturing and e-commerce. Companies like Ford, General Motors and Amazon have recognized the value of the city’s strategic location, establishing manufacturing and distribution facilities in the area.

In the first eight months of the year, Kansas City saw an increase of just over 6 million square feet in industrial space, constituting 9.6 percent of total stock. This marks a significant contrast from the previous year when industrial deliveries during the same period amounted to 3.9 million square feet, reflecting a substantial 56.8 percent increase compared to this year. Notably, deliveries in 2021 only totaled 2.2 million square feet, indicating a striking 170.5 percent decrease from 2023 levels, CommercialEdge data shows.

Furthermore, industrial construction starts this year have also shown improvement compared to last year. Year-to-date as of August, an additional 3.7 million square feet began construction, which is a remarkable 68.2 percent increase over the 1.2 million square feet that broke ground during the same timeframe in 2022.

4. Columbus, Ohio

The metro’s logistics appeal is amplified by its proximity to the Rickenbacker International Airport, which features a dedicated cargo terminal and facilitates swift airfreight operations. Columbus’ innovative spirit, fueled by a burgeoning tech sector and a focus on automation and robotics in its warehouses and distribution centers, combined with competitive operating costs, skilled workforce, and the presence of renowned research institutions add to its allure as a dynamic and forward-looking industrial market.

The metro saw the addition of 5.6 million square feet of industrial space year-to-date in August, which accounted for 8.9 percent of existing stock, CommercialEdge data shows. This marked a substantial increase of 154.0 percent from the same period last year, when only 2.2 million square feet was completed. Interestingly, Columbus stands out as the first entry on the list to report a decrease in total square footage delivered compared to previous years. Developers completed 7.3 million square feet of industrial space during the first eight months of 2021, surpassing this year's deliveries by 23.2 percent.

More than 1.6 million square feet broke ground year-to-date in August, signifying a 28.3 percent increase compared to the 2.2 million square feet that started construction during the first eight months of 2022.

5. Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati boasts a rich history in the logistics industry, with several major shipping companies headquartered in the region. In recent years, the metro has attracted significant investment from e-commerce giants like Amazon and DHL, while its lower cost of living and business-friendly environment contribute to its appeal as a thriving and strategically important industrial market in the country.

During the first eight months of the year, developers added 4.3 million square feet of new stock to the metro's inventory, representing 6.8 percent of total stock. This accounted for an increase of 70.8 percent in industrial space compared to the first eight months of 2022, when 2.5 million square feet was completed. However, it's worth noting that this figure was 23.5 percent less than the amount of space added during the same period in 2021, when 5.6 million square feet came online.

Meanwhile, construction starts in the metro year-to-date through August totaled a little over 600,000 square feet. According to CommercialEdge, this was less than the 987,314 square feet that began development during the same period in 2022.