A study of industrial real estate in 54 cities in 21 countries by property consultant Savills shows that the two Vietnamese cities have among the lowest warehouse rents in the world.

In Hanoi it is around $5 per square foot, and in HCMC it is under $10.

Property costs do not tell the whole story, and labor costs are typically the largest component of warehousing operation, usually making up more than half of all operational costs, according to Savills analysts.

The average labor cost in all the markets studied is $11 per employee per hour.

Electricity and fuel costs, for the running of buildings and vehicle fleets, are also a major factor in warehousing operations.

Combining all three, Vietnamese warehouse operating costs are the cheapest, which makes the country highly attractive to international manufacturers, Savills said.

Troy Griffiths, deputy managing director of Savills Vietnam, said: "Vietnam’s government has been investing heavily in infrastructure while promoting industrial clusters to attract businesses higher up the value chain, besides corporate taxation relief."

The markets with the highest warehousing operation costs are London in the U.K., Stockholm in Sweden and Tokyo.

Savills analysts said the boom in e-commerce, especially amid the Covid-19 pandemic, is boosting warehouse demand in a majority of markets.

They expect the pressure on warehousing costs to continue.