The Class A cold chain asset and development site are strategically located in Dongguan’s Shatian District, the premier logistics hub for the Greater Bay Area – the Pearl River Delta metro-zone comprised of nine Chinese cities, the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administration Zones, and over 70 million people therein.

In addition to assuming ownership of the existing operating asset, Hines and Metropolitan will pursue a development program to construct an additional multi-story cold storage complex on the adjacent site, offering much needed cold chain infrastructure to the rapidly growing region.  

Hines Managing Director Claire Cormier Thielke said, “We are pleased to partner with Metropolitan on this opportunity. The population growth, policy support, and connectivity of the Greater Bay Area create a compelling story for both general and specialized logistics. We are enthusiastic about the fundamentals of cold storage and the pursuit of transactions in this space as demand grows in a post-COVID environment.”

Metropolitan Managing Director John So commented, “We are very pleased to partner with Hines on a project which we believe will be an integral asset in the cold chain infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area.”

Hines has been active in the logistics sec­tor since 1957. Globally, the firm has acquired 38 mil­lion square feet of logistics space and devel­oped 45 mil­lion square feet in the sector.

Ray Lawler, CEO of Hines Asia Pacific said, “We are pleased to build on the successful 25-year track record of the Hines China team and look forward to expanding our logistics efforts across Greater China, including Beijing and the Yangtze River Delta, and the Asia Pacific Region.” 

Hines opened its first China office in 1996 under founding country head, Jim Morrison, and Mr. Benjamin Chu, as one of the first international firms to enter the country. In the period since, the firm has established a track record of development, acquisitions, and operations totaling over 14 million square feet and US $4.4 billion of total experience across Beijing, Shanghai, and Dalian. 

Hines opened offices in Hong Kong in 2019 and Shenzhen in 2020. The Greater Bay Area new business team includes Mr. Arthur Hui in Hong Kong and Mr. Derek Hrzek in Shenzhen, who will manage development of the new Dongguan cold storage facility.