The Self Storage Association of Australasia (SSAA) has released its "2025 Industry Snapshot." The annual report explores data, trends and performance insights from across the region, which spans 3,380 facilities comprising 7.5 million square meters in 730,000 units, according to a press release.
The report notes unprecedented transaction activity and record development across the $20 billion sector this year. Population growth, migration, density and housing turnover are identified as key drivers of storage demand. It also states that the asset class is maturing quickly, attracting record levels of capital and delivering solid operational performance, even as new supply reaches fresh highs, the release stated.
“Deal flow has lifted to record levels, operating performance has settled into a sustainable rhythm, and the development pipeline is gathering pace, particularly along the East Coast,” said SSAA CEO Makala Ffrench Castelli.
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The Snapshot also explores key trends across the Australasian self-storage sector, including shifts in operating models, technology and security. Insights include:
35% of operators have moved to hybrid or remote-management models, while 65% remain fully staffed.
Adoption of artificial intelligence is gaining momentum, with 62% of respondents believing it’ll be transformational or important within the next decade.
Two-thirds of operators are concerned about crime.
“Most importantly, operator sentiment is upbeat,” Ffrench Castelli said. “Seventy-three percent of respondents expect things to be better over the next 12 months, and 59% say their business is already ahead of last year. Plans to lift marketing spend, expand facilities and automate more processes suggest most operators see 2026 as a year to keep investing.”
Ffrench Castelli said one of the clearest signals of sector maturity is the shift in capital. Preliminary figures suggest 2025 will be a record year for self-storage transactions, with an estimated $5.3 billion in sales, the release stated.
“The buyer landscape has changed,” Ffrench Castelli said. “Once dominated by [real estate investment trusts], we’ve watched private equity and private investors accelerate their activity. This trend highlights the growing institutionalization of the Australasian self-storage market, driven by long-term fundamentals of resilient income, scalability and favorable demographic drivers.”
The SSAA provides advocacy, education and support for self-storage professionals in Australia and New Zealand.
Source: Self Storage Association of Australasia, 2025 Industry Snapshot
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