Asia Pacific Data Centre Market H2 2025: Record Pipeline of 19.4 GW as AI and Cloud Reshape the Region

A comprehensive analysis of 30 APAC data centre markets, covering operational capacity, development pipeline, vacancy rates, hyperscale investment, and market maturity trends.


Executive Summary

The Asia Pacific data centre market reached a historic inflection point in the second half of 2025, with total operational capacity climbing to 13,763 MW and the combined development pipeline (under construction plus planned) expanding to 19,371 MW. During the full year 2025, approximately 1,557 MW of new capacity was commissioned across the region, while the pipeline grew by 5,033 MW — underscoring the accelerating pace of digital infrastructure deployment driven by surging AI workloads and cloud expansion.

Despite the sharp increase in supply, overall vacancy declined from 12.4% in H2 2024 to 10.9% in H2 2025, confirming that demand continues to absorb new capacity at a rapid rate. This tightening dynamic was most pronounced in markets such as Tokyo (vacancy falling from 9% to 5.6%), Sydney (5.2% to 3.0%), and Mumbai (sustained at approximately 6% despite a 42% surge in operational capacity).

The report, published by global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield, covers 30 markets across 14 countries and territories, providing the most comprehensive snapshot of the region’s data centre landscape to date.

Key findings at a glance:

MetricH2 2025 ValueChange
Total Operational Capacity13,763 MW+1,557 MW in 2025
Under Construction3,677 MW
Planned Capacity15,694 MW
Total Development Pipeline19,371 MW+5,033 MW in 2025
Overall Vacancy Rate10.9%-1.5 pp from H2 2024
Markets Covered30
Largest MarketChinese Mainland (4,600 MW, 39% of total)

Asia Pacific Data Centre Market Maturity Index

Cushman & Wakefield’s proprietary Maturity Index evaluates 30 APAC markets across 15 weighted parameters, including total stock (operational, under construction, and planned), vacancy rates, colocation operator presence, hyperscale cloud provider activity, and individual asset build capacities. Markets are classified into four tiers:

Powerhouse Markets (7 markets)

These represent the region’s largest and most mature hubs, accounting for 55% of operational capacity and 49% of the development pipeline, with a combined vacancy of just 6.7%.

RankMarketOperational (MW)Pipeline (MW)Vacancy
1Johor8972,4140.7%
2Tokyo1,1791,9335.6%
3Beijing
4Mumbai7681,3216.3%
5Sydney7861,2913.0%
6Shanghai
7Melbourne

Johor’s rise to the top position represents the most dramatic reordering in the index’s history, driven by a 124% year-on-year surge in operational capacity and a 155% expansion in planned developments. Melbourne advanced into the Powerhouse category for the first time, underpinned by significant expansion in both operational capacity and pipeline.

Established Markets (7 markets)

The fastest-growing category, contributing 22% of operational capacity but a disproportionately high 28% of the development pipeline, signalling an accelerating growth trajectory.

MarketOperational (MW)Pipeline (MW)Vacancy
Seoul6019216.9%
Singapore1,0432574.9%
Hong Kong58167119.1%
Jakarta3221,08724.9%
Bangkok1131,04917.6%
Kuala Lumpur
Osaka

Osaka joined the Established category in H2 2025, while Seoul emerged as the largest market in this group following Melbourne’s promotion to Powerhouse.

Developing Markets (7 markets)

These markets — Hyderabad, Chennai, Guangzhou, Delhi, Taipei, Pune, and Auckland — collectively hold 9% of operational capacity and an equivalent 9% of the pipeline. Vacancy declined to 17.7% from elevated levels in H1 2025. Notably, five of seven markets host U.S.-based hyperscalers, underscoring their strategic importance.

Emerging Markets (9 markets)

Canberra, Bengaluru, Manila, Busan, Batam, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Perth, and Brisbane remain at early development stages with a combined 4% share and vacancy at approximately 26%. Canberra is now the largest market in this category.


Primary Market Deep Dive

1. Greater Tokyo — Japan’s Uncontested Hub

Tokyo remains one of only four APAC markets with more than 1 GW of operational data centre capacity, housing 77% of Japan’s total operational stock and 57% of its national pipeline.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)122
Operators33
Operational Capacity1,179 MW
Under Construction228 MW
Planned1,705 MW
Total Pipeline1,933 MW
Colocation Vacancy5.6%
Share of APAC8.6%
Share of Japan77%
Projected Growth by 20302.6×

Vacancy compressed sharply from 9% in H2 2024 to just 5.6%, reflecting sustained hyperscale demand and rapid growth in AI-driven compute — particularly for training and large-scale model development. With demand continuing to outpace new supply, occupiers are increasingly turning to pre-leasing strategies, securing capacity before facilities reach completion.

Key developments:

  • The Japanese government’s Watt-Bit Collaboration Initiative launched its first trial in January 2026, led by the University of Tokyo, TEPCO Power Grid, and Fujitsu, designed to shift data processing to regions with surplus energy.
  • Japan’s METI allocated JPY 72.5 billion (USD 470 million) across five national AI supercomputing programmes, with Sakura Internet receiving JPY 50.1 billion (USD 324 million).
  • RIKEN, Fujitsu, and NVIDIA are co-developing FugakuNEXT, targeting a 100-fold increase in effective application performance over the current Fugaku supercomputer.
  • Colt DCS Inzai 4 (19.8 MW) sold for USD 533 million to Keppel DC REIT in November 2025.

2. Singapore — Sustainable Growth Under Tight Regulation

Singapore’s market remained constrained by long-standing regulatory controls, but major policy developments in H2 2025 signalled a new phase of selective, sustainability-driven expansion.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)50
Operators26
Operational Capacity1,043 MW
Under Construction20 MW
Planned237 MW
Total Pipeline257 MW
Colocation Vacancy4.9%
Share of APAC7.6%
Share of Southeast Asia37.5%
Projected Growth by 20301.2×

Key developments:

  • The second Data Centre Call for Application (DC-CFA2) was launched, making at least 200 MW of new capacity available under significantly stricter sustainability criteria, including BCA-IMDA Green Mark Platinum and Singapore Standard SS 715:2025 compliance.
  • 700 MW low-carbon data centre park on Jurong Island (approximately 20 hectares) was announced — potentially increasing national supply by around 50%.
  • Firmus Technologies signed an MoU with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for an AI data centre cooled by seawater.
  • The Bifrost subsea cable entered service, delivering the first direct Singapore–US west coast route in approximately eight years.

3. Sydney — Australia’s AI Infrastructure Epicentre

Sydney reinforced its position as Australia’s leading digital infrastructure hub, with vacancy tightening to a region-leading 3.0% and its combined pipeline expanding 17% to 1.3 GW.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)50
Operators21
Operational Capacity786 MW
Under Construction189 MW
Planned1,102 MW
Total Pipeline1,291 MW
Colocation Vacancy3.0%
Share of APAC5.7%
Share of Australia56.4%
Projected Growth by 20302.6×

Key developments:

  • Macquarie Data Centres topped out its IC3 Super West facility within the 65 MW Macquarie Park Campus.
  • EdgeConneX formed a 50:50 joint venture with Stockland to develop a national data centre portfolio.
  • ByteDance signalled plans for a potential 100 MW+ campus in New South Wales or Victoria.
  • Groq commissioned 4.5 MW of AI inference capacity within Equinix Sydney — its first Asia Pacific deployment.
  • OpenAI signed an MoU with NextDC for the “Stargate” AI data centre at S7 campus in Eastern Creek, spanning 258,000 sqm with up to 550 MW of power capacity.
  • Australia’s National AI Plan positions data centres for streamlined approvals and renewable energy integration.

4. Mumbai — India’s 1.5 GW Powerhouse

India became the second-largest market in Asia Pacific by total operational capacity in H2 2025 (behind Chinese Mainland), overtaking Japan. Mumbai alone accounts for approximately 50% of India’s operational capacity and 43% of the national pipeline.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)52
Operators20
Operational Capacity768 MW
Under Construction323 MW
Planned998 MW
Total Pipeline1,321 MW
Colocation Vacancy6.3%
Share of APAC5.6%
Share of India49%
Projected Growth by 20302.7×

Mumbai’s operational capacity surged 42% from 542 MW in Q4 2024 to 768 MW in Q4 2025, yet vacancy remained at approximately 6%, signalling that new supply was absorbed almost immediately. The Thane–Belapur Road (TBR) corridor remains the epicentre, hosting 72% of operational capacity and 76% of the pipeline with a vacancy of just 5%.

Key developments:

  • Microsoft announced a USD 17.5 billion investment in Indian cloud and AI infrastructure over four years starting 2026 — its largest Asia investment.
  • Amazon committed over USD 35 billion to India by 2030, with a significant portion expected for data centre expansion.
  • EverYondr Mumbai BOM1 (60 MW, Yondr Group/Everstone) sold to Digital Bridge Group/Ivanhoe Capital in Q3 2025.
  • Lodha Green Integrated Data Centre Park (24.34 acres) sold to STT GDC for USD 56.6 million.

5. Hong Kong — Cautious Recovery with Strong Pipeline

Hong Kong’s data centre landscape remained subdued through H2 2025, though improving macroeconomic conditions point to renewed expansion from 2026 onward.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)47
Operators21
Operational Capacity581 MW
Under Construction161 MW
Planned510 MW
Total Pipeline671 MW
Colocation Vacancy19.1%
Share of APAC4.2%
Share of Greater China10.5%
Projected Growth by 20302.2×

Key developments:

  • Hong Kong’s GDP grew 3.5% in 2025, the third consecutive year of expansion.
  • The government launched a tender for a large-scale data centre in Sandy Ridge (Northern Metropolis), expected to provide 250,000 sqm of new supply.
  • Grand Ming Group’s iTech Tower portfolio was in advanced sale discussions with Bain Capital and Actis.
  • 16 new data centre developments are in planning or construction, providing approximately 670 MW of total IT capacity.

6. Johor — The Region’s Fastest-Growing Market

Johor experienced a decisive inflection point between 2024 and 2025, adding 337 MW of new operational capacity in H2 2025 alone — the highest recorded among all markets. Total operational capacity more than doubled from 401 MW to 897 MW (+124% YoY).

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)21
Operators12
Operational Capacity897 MW
Under Construction315 MW
Planned2,099 MW
Total Pipeline2,414 MW
Colocation Vacancy0.7%
Share of APAC6.5%
Share of Malaysia84.4%
Projected Growth by 20303.7×

Johor is on track to surpass the 1 GW threshold by end-2026. Malaysia leads the region with 483 MW under construction, followed by Thailand (347 MW) and Indonesia (236 MW).

Key developments:

  • Empyrion Digital announced a 200 MW, five-building campus on 34.9 acres in SiLC Industrial Cluster, Nusajaya, with the first 40 MW facility targeted for Q4 2026.
  • Microsoft is developing its second Malaysian cloud region in Johor Bahru (Southeast Asia 3) featuring biofuel-powered backup generators and closed-loop, zero-water-evaporation cooling.
  • The Southern Johor Renewable Energy Corridor (SJREC) — a USD 6 billion initiative by IFC, Permodalan Darul Ta’zim, and Ditrolic Energy — will deploy up to 4 GW of solar generation and 5.12 GWh of energy storage across 2,000 sq km.
  • Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s RM 42.8 billion grid investment programme is driving electricity tariff adjustments.
  • Vantage Data Centers acquired 73 acres in Sedenak from Yondr (September 2025, undisclosed).
  • Pioneer Real Estate acquired 40.10 acres at BCIP from Cresendo Development for USD 51 million (November 2025).

7. Greater Seoul — Decentralised Growth and AI Ambitions

Seoul recorded a 16% year-on-year growth in operational capacity to 601 MW, while its total pipeline surged 43% YoY to approximately 921 MW.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)55
Operators25
Operational Capacity601 MW
Under Construction223 MW
Planned698 MW
Total Pipeline921 MW
Colocation Vacancy6.9%
Share of APAC4.4%
Share of South Korea77%
Projected Growth by 20302.5×

A key structural trend is decentralisation: capacity outside Seoul’s traditional core clusters now accounts for 30% of operational capacity and 31% of the pipeline, driven by limited power availability and high land costs in central Seoul.

Key developments:

  • AWS announced an additional USD 5 billion to develop AI-focused data centres, primarily in Incheon and Gyeonggi, following a USD 4 billion commitment earlier in 2025.
  • OpenAI is developing a Stargate AI data centre in South Korea with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, expected to require up to 900,000 DRAM wafers per month.
  • DCI Data Centers secured KRW 310 billion (USD 212.5 million) for its SEL01 facility in Seoul.
  • Sejong Telecom Bundang Data Centre (8,816 sqm) sold for USD 22 million to Pine & Partners (with TPG Angelo Gordon).
  • Yongin Deokseong-ri Data Centre (56 MW planned) acquired for USD 75 million by WideCreek AMC.

8. Greater Jakarta — Absorption Recovery and Hyperscale Anchoring

Jakarta recorded a dramatic improvement in market fundamentals, with colocation vacancy declining from 36.0% to 24.9% as new hyperscale commitments absorbed capacity.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)59
Operators32
Operational Capacity322 MW
Under Construction186 MW
Planned901 MW
Total Pipeline1,087 MW
Colocation Vacancy24.9%
Share of APAC2.3%
Share of Indonesia81.6%
Projected Growth by 20304.4×

Key developments:

  • Princeton Digital Group commenced construction of JC3, a 120 MW AI and cloud-focused hyperscale campus at GIIC Bekasi.
  • Digital Edge announced plans for a 500 MW campus at GIIC, scalable to 1 GW, and secured USD 325 million from PT Bank Central Asia.
  • The Bifrost subsea cable reached Ready for Service status, directly connecting Southeast Asia to the western United States.
  • Indonesia Cable Express System (ICE) II — a new subsea cable linking Singapore to Manado — was announced.

9. Bangkok — Pipeline Explosion in an Emerging Hub

Bangkok recorded the most explosive pipeline growth in the region, with the combined development pipeline surging over 300% YoY to approximately 945 MW (347 MW under construction, 598 MW planned), while operational capacity grew modestly by 8% to 113 MW.

IndicatorH2 2025
Data Centres (Operational)53
Operators25
Operational Capacity113 MW
Under Construction347 MW
Planned702 MW
Total Pipeline1,049 MW
Colocation Vacancy17.6%
Share of APAC0.8%
Share of Thailand95.5%
Projected Growth by 203010.3×

Thailand’s projected 10.3× growth by 2030 is the highest among all markets tracked, reflecting the market’s nascency and enormous upside potential.

Key developments:

  • Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) approved 36 data centre projects in 2025, with total investment exceeding USD 23.1 billion, including USD 3.1 billion of additional approvals in November 2025 alone.
  • National Telecom (NT) launched the Asia Direct Cable (ADC) in November 2025.
  • Google announced TalayLink, a new subsea cable linking Australia and Thailand.
  • The BOI tightened promotion rules from November 2025, recalibrating CIT exemption treatment by project type and location.

Secondary Markets Spotlight

Delhi NCR

IndicatorH2 2025
Operators / Data Centres9 / 17
Operational Capacity182 MW
Under Construction24 MW
Planned229 MW
Colocation Vacancy10.6%

Operational capacity surged 41% YoY from 129 MW to 182 MW, while vacancy collapsed from 37% to 10.6% — the most dramatic tightening of any secondary market. The Noida–Greater Noida cluster dominates with 86% of operational capacity and 96% of the pipeline, supported by favourable power availability and competitive land pricing. An additional 380 MW is in early-stage development.

Taipei

IndicatorH2 2025
Operators / Data Centres10 / 28
Operational Capacity110 MW
Under Construction47 MW
Planned148 MW
Colocation Vacancy5.6%

Vacancy tightened sharply from 16% to 5.6%, underscoring strong demand despite modest supply growth (~3% YoY). GMI Cloud plans a USD 500 million AI-focused data centre with 7,000 NVIDIA GB300 GPUs across 96 racks (~16 MW), targeting operation by March 2026. Microsoft confirmed a new Azure cloud region in Taiwan for 2026.

Auckland

IndicatorH2 2025
Operators / Data Centres17 / 27
Operational Capacity153 MW
Under Construction0 MW
Planned119 MW
Colocation Vacancy12.3%

Operational capacity jumped 55% half-on-half (99 MW to 153 MW) following the launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region — backed by a NZD 7.5 billion (USD 5.3 billion) investment comprising three availability zones. The pipeline contracted 32% to 119 MW as major projects completed, and vacancy rose to 12.3% due to the influx of new supply.

Manila

IndicatorH2 2025
Operators / Data Centres14 / 24
Operational Capacity73 MW
Under Construction22 MW
Planned89 MW
Colocation Vacancy47.9%

Modest 7.4% HoH growth to 73 MW, with vacancy elevated at 47.9% as absorption lags new supply. Flow Digital Infrastructure launched ML1, its first Philippines facility in Laguna (6 MW initial, 36 MW at full build-out).

Ho Chi Minh City

IndicatorH2 2025
Operators / Data Centres9 / 14
Operational Capacity33 MW
Under Construction14 MW
Planned54 MW
Colocation Vacancy35.4%

Vacancy improved substantially from 54% to 35% YoYEvolution Data Centers formed a JV with HITC to develop hyperscale and AI-focused facilities. Kinh Bac City Development signed an MoU for a 200 MW, USD 2 billion AI campus with approximately 100,000 GPUs at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park.

Perth

IndicatorH2 2025
Operators / Data Centres10 / 16
Operational Capacity27 MW
Under Construction0 MW
Planned53 MW
Colocation Vacancy39.5%

Perth remains early-stage, but structural enablers are emerging. SubCo’s SMAP subsea cable achieved its first landing, linking Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth across 5,000 km. Western Australia’s SWIS Transmission Plan will replace 1.4 GW of coal, unlock 2.6 GW of new wind and solar, and support 1.5 GW of grid-scale battery capacity by end-2025, with renewables already at approximately 39% penetration.


Southeast Asia: The Region’s Growth Engine

Southeast Asia currently holds the largest share of under-construction capacity in Asia Pacific. Key country-level statistics:

CountryUnder Construction (MW)Key Market(s)
Malaysia483Johor, Kuala Lumpur
Thailand347Bangkok
Indonesia236Jakarta
Philippines22Manila
Vietnam14Ho Chi Minh City

Johor alone accounts for 31% of Asia Pacific’s total under-construction pipeline at 1,123 MW, with Malaysia’s 483 MW under construction leading all Southeast Asian nations.


Key Investment Themes and Outlook

1. AI Infrastructure Moves from Ambition to Execution

AI and cloud investment remained central themes, but the narrative shifted from early-stage ambition toward large-scale execution and capital consolidation. Hyperscale and AI-led developments progressed from planning into construction, with operators sharpening their focus on power availability, sustainability, and high-density design — including liquid cooling and next-generation rack configurations.

2. Capital Markets and M&A

Capital markets activity across Asia Pacific remained resilient, supported by sustained institutional interest despite a more selective environment. Notable transactions in H2 2025 included:

TransactionCapacity/SizeValue (USD)BuyerSeller
Colt DCS Inzai 4 (Tokyo)19.8 MW$533MKeppel DC REITColt DCS / CPP Investment Board
Lodha Green Integrated DC Park (Mumbai)24.34 acres$56.6MSTT GDCLodha Developers
BCIP Land (Johor)40.10 acres$51MPioneer Real EstateCresendo Development
Sejong Telecom Bundang DC (Seoul)8,816 sqm$22MPine & Partners (TPG Angelo Gordon)Hana Alternative Asset Management
SK Rent-a-Car Building (Seoul)2,325 sqm$18MKoramco AMCSK Rent-a-Car
Yongin Deokseong-ri DC (Seoul)56 MW (Planned)$75MWideCreek AMCYongin Deokseong Data Centre PFV

3. Major Hyperscale Investment Commitments

CompanyMarketCommitmentTimeline
MicrosoftIndiaUSD 17.5 billion2026–2030
Amazon (AWS)IndiaUSD 35+ billionBy 2030
AWSSouth KoreaUSD 5 billion (additional)
AWSNew ZealandNZD 7.5 billion (USD 5.3B)Completed (H2 2025)
OpenAI (Stargate)Sydney550 MW campus
OpenAI (Stargate)Seoul900K DRAM wafers/month

4. Government Policy Alignment

Governments across the region are increasingly aligning policy with private-sector data centre investment:

  • Japan: Watt-Bit Collaboration Initiative to decentralise compute; METI’s JPY 72.5B AI supercomputing fund
  • Singapore: DC-CFA2 with strict sustainability criteria; 700 MW Jurong Island low-carbon park
  • Australia: National AI Plan providing streamlined approvals for compliant data centres
  • Thailand: BOI approved 36 projects worth USD 23.1B in 2025; recalibrated incentives from November
  • Malaysia: USD 6B Southern Johor Renewable Energy Corridor; JS-SEZ cross-border framework

5. Regulatory Complexity and Energy Constraints

Growing regulatory complexity, energy constraints, and geopolitical considerations are increasingly influencing site selection. Markets such as Tokyo, Singapore, and Seoul face structural power and land limitations, driving decentralised development strategies and encouraging more diversified regional deployment. TNB’s RM 42.8 billion grid investment in Malaysia exemplifies the scale of utility upgrades required to sustain hyperscale growth.


Five-Year Capacity Projections

Cushman & Wakefield projects that by end-2028:

Market / RegionProjected Capacity
Chinese Mainland5 GW
Australia2 GW
India2 GW
Japan2 GW
Johor (Malaysia)1 GW by end-2026

The projected growth multipliers by 2030 underscore the enormous runway ahead — ranging from 1.2× for Singapore (constrained by regulation) to 10.3× for Thailand (a nascent market with rapidly accelerating pipeline).


Conclusion

The H2 2025 Asia Pacific data centre market paints a picture of a region in the midst of a structural transformation. Operational capacity continues to scale rapidly (13.8 GW and growing), the development pipeline has reached unprecedented levels (19.4 GW), and vacancy is compressing across most major markets — a powerful combination that underscores the region’s central role in global AI and cloud infrastructure deployment.

Key takeaways for investors, operators, and end-users:

  • Supply is accelerating, but demand is keeping pace. Vacancy declined to 10.9% despite 1.6 GW of new supply in 2025.
  • Johor is the region’s breakout story, with 124% operational growth and a 2.4 GW pipeline that has reshaped the Maturity Index.
  • India has overtaken Japan as the second-largest market by operational capacity, with Mumbai alone adding 226 MW in 2025.
  • Southeast Asia’s pipeline share (31% of APAC) signals a fundamental geographic rebalancing of digital infrastructure.
  • AI is the primary demand driver, shifting operator focus toward high-density design, liquid cooling, and power-proximate site selection.
  • Government policy is becoming a critical differentiator, with markets offering streamlined approvals, renewable energy integration, and fiscal incentives attracting disproportionate investment.

The data centre sector in Asia Pacific has firmly established itself as a core infrastructure asset class, and with AI adoption still in its early innings, the growth trajectory shows no signs of decelerating.


Source: Cushman & Wakefield, “Asia Pacific Data Centre H2 2025 Update.” All figures in IT MW unless otherwise stated. Asia Pacific region includes Australia, Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.


Cover Image Prompt: Minimalist style, blue-green color palette, dark background, cinematic lighting, 4K 16:9 — a futuristic data center corridor with glowing blue server racks, geometric patterns of light flowing through fiber optic cables, subtle map of Asia Pacific in the background, sleek and modern aesthetic.

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