Romania Freight and Logistics - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

Romania's freight and logistics services are witnessing a surge in demand, bolstered by robust government support

• Starting July 1, 2024, Romania imposed sanctions for failing to declare goods in international road transport under the RO e-Transport System. This system is managed by the Ministry of Finance, the National Fiscal Administration Agency, and the Romanian Customs Authority. Its main goal is to track the movement of goods throughout Romania, especially those considered high-risk for taxes. Goods weighing over 500 kg or valued at USD 2,217 must be declared in the system for both national and international transport. Transport operators are now required to install GPS devices in their vehicles that can send real-time location data.
• Romania plans to expand its highway network from the current 970 km to 1,300 km by the end of 2025. By July 2024, construction was already in progress on 320 km of highway projects, according to CNAIR. A new part of the A3 highway will connect Cluj-Napoca with Oradea in northern Romania, improving the E60 route. Work is also being done on the A1 highway section linking Sibiu and Pitesti, part of the E81 route. Additionally, bidding for Lot 3 of the expressway between Arad and Oradea has been competitive, with nine proposals submitted. This 47 km section, expected to cost USD 786.45 million, should take 24 months to finish.

Romania Freight and Logistics Market Trends

Rising infrastructure initiatives boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contributions from the transport and storage sector

• In September 2024, the Government unveiled a plan, allocating a budget of USD 8.38 billion to enhance the nation's transport infrastructure. This initiative is a key component of Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The budget allocated USD 5.02 billion for rail system upgrades and USD 3.36 billion for road and highway enhancements. Thanks to the NRRP program, Romania has successfully constructed new highways and bridges, boosting the GDP contribution from the transport and storage sector.
• In June 2024, Romanian state railway Căile Ferate Române (CFR) invited bids for contracts totaling USD 1.07 billion, to upgrade two sections of the Craiova - Drobeta Turnu Severin - Caransebeş main line. The first contract, valued at USD 0.54 billion, involves design and construction on a 41.6 km stretch from Drobeta Turnu Severin to Băile Herculane. This work includes a year allocated for design and must be completed by 2030. The second contract, covering a 32.6 km stretch from Băile Herculane to Po Poarta, is valued at USD 0.53 billion and also spans the same six-year period. The upgrade of the 225.3 km Craiova - Caransebeş main line will allow trains to reach speeds of up to 160 km/h. Such initiatives are expected to boost sector contribution to GDP.

In 2024, diesel fuel prices in Romania surpassed those of gasoline for the first time

• As of August 2024, Europe experienced a surge in diesel imports from the Middle East, with large oil tankers unloading diesel typically reserved for crude oil. This shift was more about shipping logistics than demand changes. Diesel prices dropped below gasoline, particularly in Romania, where diesel was once the pricier fuel due to insufficient domestic refinery capacity. Recent price shifts contributed to this trend. Following OMV Petrom S.A.'s price adjustments in August 2024, Standard gasoline at the their gas station on Brașov Street in Bucharest was priced at 1.63 USD/liter, while Standard diesel stood at 1.62 USD/liter.
• In March 2024, the Romanian government adjusted its energy support scheme, lowering price levels for households, small businesses, and industries. This scheme, which partially regulated the country's power and gas markets, was set to continue until March 2025. The government rolled out a centralized energy acquisition mechanism in late 2022, mandating power and gas producers to sell a portion of their output at regulated prices from January 2023. Gasoline prices in Romania were forecasted to hover around 1.76 USD/liter in 2025 and rise to 1.84 USD/liter in 2026.

Romania Freight and Logistics Industry Overview

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