The Russian market of light industrial warehouses and approaches to their classification

The state of the Russian warehouse real estate market is characterized by the gradual replacement of old warehouses left over from the Soviet period, poorly adapted to the current scale and especially warehouse operations, with new warehouses and warehouse complexes that make it possible to efficiently carry out the technological process in the warehouse. But recently, the main focus in the construction of new warehouses has been on large areas of premises demanded by large companies. The needs of small and medium-sized businesses in the field of industry, trade (including online commerce), and the provision of services in small modern warehouses are poorly met. The light industrial facilities, which have begun to appear in Russia over the past decade, serve as a storage facility that could cover the needs of these companies. The novelty of this format and the different approaches to the classification of warehouse facilities make it difficult for owners (leaseholders) to make a decision on the construction (use) of warehouses. The article examines the emerging Russian market of light industrial warehouses, the features of its formation and development in modern economic conditions. The place of the format under consideration in the structure of the Russian warehouse real estate market has been determined; the factors determining its demand among economic entities have been identified; the risks associated with using the format for owners (investors) and landlords have been identified; approaches to classifying objects of the ligth industrial format that have developed in Russian business practice have been studied. The development of the format may be further driven by the growth of private investment, including through closed-end real estate mutual funds. The methodological basis of the research consists of systematic and comparative approaches based on methods of analysis and systematization. The information basis for the study was the data from statistical reports and analytical reviews of the Russian warehouse real estate market.