Prime Office Rents Rise 3q2025 Amid Limited Supply And Flight Quality Moves
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The third quarter of 2025 saw continued growth in rents for prime office space in Singapore, according to a recent report from real estate consultancies. In its latest quarterly office market report, JLL’s research shows that Grade A office rents in the CBD increased 1.3% quarter-on-quarter to $11.83 per square foot per month (psf pm), the highest quarterly growth in six quarters.
The addition of IOI Central Boulevard Towers to the basket of properties monitored by JLL was the main contributor to this higher growth. If we exclude IOI Central Boulevard Towers, office rents in the CBD grew by less than 1%, which is consistent with the past six quarters.
“Singapore’s office market has remained resilient, supported in part by stronger-than-expected economic fundamentals and a favourable interest rate environment,” explains Dr Chua Yang Liang, head of research and consultancy for JLL Southeast Asia.
In a separate report, Knight Frank reports that prime grade office rents in the Raffles Place and Marina Bay areas grew by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter to an average of $11.41 psf pm in the third quarter of 2025. This is similar to the 0.2% quarter-on-quarter growth recorded in the second quarter of 2025, and brings total rental growth for the first nine months of the year to 0.4%.
Knight Frank’s research also found that occupancy levels for office spaces in the Raffles Place and Marina Bay precinct remained unchanged at 94.7%, while overall CBD occupancy increased from 93.7% in the second quarter of 2025 to 94.2% in the third quarter.
Due to the limited available supply and a cautious business environment, most leasing activity was driven by lease renewals, according to Knight Frank. However, some occupiers, particularly those with expiring leases, have chosen to relocate to newer, higher-quality buildings while also right-sizing or gradually expanding. For example, tech company Zoom Communications relocated from Asia Square Tower to IOI Central Boulevard Towers, while quantitative trading firm Jane Street is planning to expand its space in the latter.
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025, JLL forecasts that rental growth for CBD Grade A offices will remain modest, with full-year growth projected to reach around 3%. Going into 2026, JLL anticipates office rental growth to pick up pace, driven by a tightening supply pipeline. “As vacancy rates are expected to tighten between 2025 and 2027, opportunities for whole-floor and multi-floor tenancies will become increasingly limited, potentially pushing rental rates beyond some tenants’ budget limits,” comments Andrew Tangye, head of office leasing and advisory for JLL Singapore.
Meanwhile, Calvin Yeo, head of occupier strategy and solutions at Knight Frank Singapore, observes that “selective upgrades to quality space have created a two-tier market where newer, well-connected buildings thrive and older stock faces growing vacancy pressure.” Given the limited office stock in the next few years, he expects quality buildings to remain almost fully occupied as more firms opt to move from older buildings to higher-quality ones. In contrast, older and poorly connected buildings will face increasing pressure to be redeveloped or modernised.
Amid the uncertain global environment, Knight Frank expects office occupiers to remain cautious over the next six to 12 months. “Therefore, prime rental growth for the last quarter of 2025 is expected to remain flat with slight growth, and more of the same is expected in the first half of 2026,” the report concludes.
