Office Realty Driven by Strong Demand

Riding high on the strong demand, office transactions have attained record high position with Bangalore office market recording the highest volume of transactions , constituting more than one fourth of office volume transactions across 8 cities.   According to Knight Frank India’s Q3 2024 office report,  office space transactions reached 19 million square feet , the highest quarterly absorption since Q1 2018. This marks an 18% year-on-year (YoY) increase from 16.1 mn sq ft in Q3 2023. In year-to-date terms, 2024 has already registered leasing of 53.7 mn sq ft, registering  27% higher YoY, in the first 9 months of the year, and is on course to breach a fresh annual high in 2024.

Global Capability Centers (GCCs) accounted for 7.1 mn sq ft or 37% of the transacted volume during Q3 2024, while India Facing businesses took up 6.6 mn sq ft or 35% of the transacted volumes.The strong demand in office market reflects the confidence of businesses focused on the Indian economy amid ongoing growth while the increased interest from GCCs highlights global enterprises’ high commitment to the Indian business environment.

Bengaluru office market which recorded the highest volume of transactions for Q3 2024 at 5.3 mn sq ft constituted 28% of the office volume transactions across eight cities in the country. The transactions in the city grew substantially by 158% YoY and to 5.3 mn sq ft in Q3 2024. NCR and Chennai which grew at 26% and 35% YoY respectively were the other prominent markets to record significant growth.

Says Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, ” India-facing businesses and GCCs have continued to expand operations, remaining the primary drivers of increased volumes. We expect this trend to continue for the rest of the year, with the possibility of office leasing numbers crossing 70 million sq ft by the end of 2024—an astounding 10 million sq ft increase, or a 20% growth over the previous high. 

Experiencing a remarkable 18% YoY growth, the Indian office space market maintained its momentum into Q3 2024 following a robust performance throughout 2024. Leading the charge, Bengaluru emerged as a standout performer, witnessing a staggering 158% YoY surge in office space transactions.

Source: Knight Frank India

Global Capability Centers accounted for 37% share in the Q3 2024, 7.1 mn sq fttaken up by GCCs counts as the largest share of the transactions’ pie. Of the total spaces transacted by GCCs in this quarter, 47% was concentrated in Bengaluru.

 India facing businesses, which have traditionally anchored the market, accounted for 35% of the transacted volumes in Q3 2024. This can be attributed to the high level of confidence in the outlook for the Indian economy and steady growth of consumer markets.

 Flex space operators accounted for 16% of the total transacted volume. Volumes taken up by Third Party IT services have trended up well in 2024 2.6 mn sq ft transacted in Q3 2024, constituting a 115% growth in YoY terms.

Source: Knight Frank Research

According to Viral Desai, Senior Executive Director, Occupier Strategy & Solutions, Industrial & Logistics, Capital Markets & Retail, Knight Frank India,the demand for office space is strengthening over the last few quarters. Rental growth across key markets remains healthy, supported by sustained volume growth. The momentum in development activity is building up as well with Occupier Wellness and ESG compliance gaining increasing focus.

End-use split of transactions

Source: Knight Frank Research.

In Q3 2024, rental values grew across all markets YoY. Notably, this marks the ninth consecutive quarter with either stable or positive YoY rent movement. Rents in the larger office markets of NCR, Mumbai and Pune grew by 3% YoY while Bengaluru and Chennai rents grew by 7% and 10% YoY respectively.

Average rent growth across markets during Q3 2024

Source: Knight Frank Research

In terms of average rent growth, Chennai topped with YoY and QoQ growth at 10% and 3% respectively, followed by Bangalore at 7% and 1.8% respectively . .