Now Reading: India drives 70% of Asia-Pacific office leasing in H1 2026
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India drives 70% of Asia-Pacific office leasing in H1 2026
India accounted for over 70% of total office leasing across 11 key Asia Pacific markets in the first half of 2026, according to a Colliers report. Office leasing across the region rose 3% year-on-year to 4.6 million sq m (49.5 million sq ft). India, China and Japan together drove over 95% of regional absorption. Grade A office space led demand as occupiers favoured high-quality workplaces.
Separately, Knight Frank India reported that India's occupied office stock hit a record 901.1 million sq ft as of June 30, 2026, up 6% from a year ago. Bengaluru remained the largest market at 222.4 million sq ft, followed by Delhi NCR and Mumbai. Both reports attribute demand to expansion of global capability centres and domestic enterprises.
New office supply across the 11 APAC markets fell 37% year-on-year to 3 million sq m. Colliers expects vacancy levels to remain stable and rents to grow further in high-activity markets through the rest of 2026.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both Colliers and Knight Frank frame the data as a positive story of Indian market strength, attributing it to global capability centre expansion and talent availability. The reports do not address risks such as geopolitical uncertainty, rising interest rates, or potential slowdown in technology hiring. Neither source offers any critical perspective or opposing data. The balanced reading is that office demand remains robust in established hubs, but the sustainability depends on continued global investment and stable policy.
Knight Frank provides granular city-level data showing broad-based growth, while Colliers emphasises India's regional dominance and constrained supply. The tribunal hears no appeal, the next quarterly data from both firms will show whether momentum holds.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2) (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
