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European logistics take-up weakened in the first quarter of 2012 following a buoyant final quarter of 2011, according to new research by property adviser Jones Lang LaSalle.

Total take-up reached just under three million m2, down 35% quarter-on-quarter. However, take-up remained more resilient compared with the same quarter last year (Q1 2011), falling by 16%, and was still 15% ahead of the 10-year average, indicating strong logistics occupier markets despite the uncertain economic outlook.

Germany, France and Poland confirmed the top three ranking seen in 2011 as a whole, accounting for more than 50% of the European total in Q1 2012. While Germany was once again the most active market, with just under one million m² of floor space taken up, activity declined 16% on the record levels seen last year. Meanwhile, both France and Poland saw higher take-up levels compared to Q1 2011, up 13% and 18% respectively.

Elsewhere, activity rose in annual terms in the Netherlands (+38%) and Spain (+18%) but fell in Belgium (-69%), the Czech Republic (-53%), Hungary (-55%), Russia (-5%) and the UK (-56%).

'Overall, logistics occupiers have started to adopt a more cautious approach amid uncertain predictions of trade flows due to the continued uncertain economic outlook and the eurozone sovereign debt crisis having started to impact on exports across the region,' commented Paul Betts, head of EMEA Logistics and Industrial at Jones Lang LaSalle..

'Nevertheless, we expect take-up levels to remain resilient during the remainder of the year driven by a number of structural changes such as outsourcing, e-commerce and in particular a more positive global outlook with ongoing strong household demand in emerging markets,' he added.

JLL's research considers assets of over 5,000 m² in size (10,000 m² in the UK).