Asia-Pacific’s office sector offers compelling opportunities for value-add investments, according to Knight Frank Asia-Pacific’s latest outlook report, Charting new horizons – 25 trends shaping 2025. The report features its 25 key significant developments across sectors trends.
Keith Ooi, group managing director, Knight Frank Malaysia, says, “Malaysia’s property market is evolving in line with regional trends, with growing demand for ESG-compliant offices and green-certified developments driving notable investment activity. Insights from REH 2H2024 and CREISS 2025 emphasize the nation’s strong potential for sustainable growth and opportunities for innovative asset repositioning in the coming year.”
“The office sector continues to adapt as companies place greater emphasis on high-quality, ESG-certified spaces to attract and retain talent. This shift towards ‘premium offices’ has spurred significant investments in renovations and redevelopments, particularly in key locations like Kuala Lumpur. Our recent findings from CREISS 2025 and REH 2H2024 highlight the increasing focus on green-certified solutions aligned with corporate sustainability goals, positioning Malaysia as an attractive market offering a balance of cost-efficiency and premium office spaces.” Ooi added.
The report showed that 45% of office transactions earmarked for redevelopment or renovation focused on upgrading and enhancing office specifications in 2024. The issue of building obsolescence gained prevalence over the past year, as Grade B and lower-tier buildings face increasing challenges in leasing due to a growing ‘flight-to-quality’ trend among corporate occupiers. This shift presents significant investment opportunities in the value-add segment, particularly in revitalising older stock by incorporating ESG (environment, social and governance) and wellness features.
Christine Li, head of research, Asia-Pacific and report author, says, “The Asia-Pacific office sector is evolving into a two-tiered market, offering opportunities for value-add investors. This transformation is driven by the widening gap between outdated and premium office spaces, increasing focus on sustainability and ESG compliance, and mandatory stock market regulations. Consequently, we are witnessing a sustained demand for ESG-compliant office spaces.”
Neil Brookes, global head of capital markets, Knight Frank, says, “Despite ongoing challenges, we expect a steady recovery in the region as pricing stabilises, bid-ask spread narrows, and confidence grows. Investors are increasingly diversifying their portfolios with alternative real estate investments alongside traditional assets. Diverse market conditions and economies in the region offer opportunities for different investment strategies, requiring investors to remain adaptable and responsive in their strategic approaches to capitalise on the most attractive opportunities.”
16% Rise in APAC Office Investment, First Uptick in Two Years
The office sector led investment volume across Asia-Pacific. Annual investment volume in office assets grew 16%, the fastest growing asset class, to reach US$59.5 billion in 2024 from US$51.2 billion in 2023. This growth accounted for 37% of all capital received in the region’s real estate market.
A major draw of office assets in Asia-Pacific is the high occupancy rate compared with western counterparts. Utilisation rate averages to 80% in the region, far higher than the 65% recorded in major US cities and 70% in the UK and Europe.
“The Klang Valley’s Grade A office market is showing signs of stability, with rents and occupancy rates gradually improving. This positive trend is driven by ongoing demand from both local and international businesses, including global companies that are establishing shared service offices. Recent developments, such as The Exchange TRX and Sunway Square Corporate Towers, offer larger floor plates, good amenities, and strong connectivity, which may attract interest from tenants and investors. Properties located in strategic areas with solid tenancy profiles are likely to be appealing to long-term investors looking for stability and growth in Malaysia, “says, Keith Ooi, group managing director of Knight Frank Malaysia.
Keith Ooi, group managing director, Knight Frank Malaysia, adds, “Malaysia’s office market is on a promising trajectory, with global and local occupiers continuing to seek premium spaces that meet evolving workplace and sustainability standards. As reflected in our CREISS 2025 report, Kuala Lumpur and key urban hubs remain attractive investment destinations, bolstered by resilient demand and a proactive focus on upgrading existing office stock. With strategic investments and policy alignment, the sector is set to remain a key driver for Malaysia’s real estate growth in 2025.”
Data centres lead alternative real estate amid shifting investor landscape
Investor appetite for defensive sectors remains strong, with data centres leading alternative real estate investments, despite anticipated rate cuts. Data centres have consistently ranked first in niche property type prospects, showcasing remarkable growth.
In 2024, data centre investments reached US$6.3 billion (excluding the AirTrunk takeover) a 2.5-fold increase from US$2.5 billion in 2023. This trend is driven by persistent pricing expectation gaps and narrowing yield spreads, pushing investors towards assets that can meet their return targets.
Amy Wong, executive director of research & consultancy, Knight Frank Malaysia, says, “The phenomenal investments in Malaysia’s data centre sector in 2024 have highlighted the country’s appeal as a key destination for global operators. Strategic infrastructure, a strong digital economy, and government support have played a significant role in driving this success.”
Fred Fitzalan Howard, data centre lead, Knight Frank, says “Asia-Pacific offers significant investment opportunities in the data centre sector due to strong live supply growth and a persistent supply-demand imbalance. From 2018 to 2023, the region experienced a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% in live supply, as reported by DC Byte. Yet, the current supply remains insufficient to meet the demands of its vast population. Malaysia continues to lead as the top data centre hub in Knight Frank’s SEA-5 Data Centre Opportunity Index 2024, while emerging markets such as Chennai, Manila, Melbourne, and Bangkok show promising potential in this sector.”
Emerging markets drive industrial asset growth amid global supply chain shifts
The industrial sector in emerging markets experienced remarkable growth, with total capital received for industrial assets reaching a record-breaking US$3.0 billion in 2024, marking a 50% increase from the previous year. This growth significantly outpaced the rest of Asia-Pacific, which saw only an 8% increase during the same period.
Vietnam emerged as a leading investment destination in the region, leveraging its strategic proximity to Chinese mainland and strong export growth. As Southeast Asia’s largest exporter, Vietnam’s exports grew rising from US$320 billion in 2019 to US$440 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 8.2%, as noted by IHS Markit, driven by substantial foreign direct investment in manufacturing.
To download Knight Frank Asia-Pacific Charting new horizons – 25 trends shaping 2025, report, please visit: Charting New Horizons – 25 trends shaping 2025
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