Romania is increasingly attracting the attention of international investors as a market with a dynamically developing logistics base. Stable economic growth and modern infrastructure make the country one of the most dynamic investment environments in Central and Eastern Europe. How does this shape the development of Romanian companies in the TSL sector? Dragos Boranda, Managing Director Romania at Rohlig SUUS Logistics, provides his commentary.
Romania is increasingly attracting the attention of international investors not only as a cost-effective location but also as a market with a rapidly developing industrial and logistics base. Stable economic growth, combined with an above-average level of energy self-sufficiency and growing demand for modern infrastructure, makes the country one of the most dynamic investment environments in Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, Romanian companies themselves are growing at a fast pace and are increasingly expanding into international markets, which drives the demand for more advanced supply chains and expertise in cross-border logistics.
As one of the leaders in economic development in Europe since 1989, Romania has achieved the highest growth in real household income per capita in the entire European Union over the last 20 years, reaching as much as 134%. The country’s potential is clearly recognized by international industry. Romania has already built a strong position in key sectors such as automotive, as well as in the steel and chemical industries. At the same time, we are currently observing growing demand from the energy sector, including renewable energy, with a particularly strong increase in the import of components such as photovoltaic panels.
This growth translates directly into an increasing demand for advanced logistics. Companies operating in Romania are looking not only for effective transport solutions but also for comprehensive support in managing local and global supply chains that ensure continuity, scalability, and operational efficiency.
Thanks to competitive operating costs, access to the EU single market, and developing infrastructure, Romania is becoming an increasingly attractive location for companies seeking alternatives to production in Asia. The global nearshoring trend represents a major opportunity for the Romanian economy. In 2025, when the number of investment projects in Europe fell by 7%, Romania attracted over 100 foreign direct investment projects – 16% more than the year before. This was accompanied by a 39% increase in the number of jobs created, while the European average fell during that time. The country rose to 11th place in the European FDI attractiveness ranking, maintaining second position in the CEE region, with machinery and equipment, IT, and transport and logistics among the strongest sectors.
What are Romania’s economic strengths?
Romania’s location makes it a natural distribution hub for the wider region – from the Balkans to Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, the country is well-prepared to play a key role in the future reconstruction of Ukraine, supported by infrastructure investments, geographical proximity, and growing experience in handling transit flows.
The Port of Constanta is Romania’s largest seaport and one of the most important on the Black Sea. It serves as a strategic hub for Central and Eastern Europe and a key point in trade with Asia. In 2025, the port handled approximately 67 million tons of cargo, confirming its lasting importance for regional and global supply chains. After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Constanta became the only port in the region to maintain regular connections with China.
The country is also investing heavily in the modernization of transport infrastructure. The construction of the A7 motorway connecting Constanta with the Ukrainian border, as well as planned new ports along the Danube-Black Sea Canal, are just some of the projects that will strengthen Romania’s position as a regional leader. The Danube provides a unique advantage in inland and intermodal transport, offering a cost-effective alternative to road transport, especially for oversized and industrial cargo, while enabling efficient connections with markets such as Hungary and further along the Danube corridor towards Central Europe.
Furthermore, the country’s entry into the Schengen Area in 2025 significantly facilitated trade and logistics, enabling faster flow of goods, lower costs, and greater supply chain predictability. The lifting of border controls eliminated delays that often exceeded 20 hours, significantly improving transit times and operational efficiency.
At the same time, Romania benefits from a relatively high level of energy self-sufficiency, which strengthens its competitiveness in the context of high energy prices and raw material uncertainty across Europe, making it an increasingly attractive location for industrial investment. The country is also experiencing a revival in the renewable energy sector. In 2025, the solar energy market recorded significant growth, adding approximately 2.2 GW of new capacity, which places Romania among the European leaders in this field. This dynamic development drives the import of components such as photovoltaic panels, mainly from Asia, with the port of Constanta becoming a key logistics hub and efficient customs clearance gaining strategic importance.
Comprehensive support and future prospects
As Rohlig SUUS Logistics, we have been present in Romania for over six years and we see great potential in this market. We offer comprehensive logistics services, including road, sea, air, rail, and intermodal transport, and we have recently expanded our offer to include warehousing services in response to growing customer demand. We provide storage, order picking, co-packing, and terminal handling, guaranteeing full support for our partners’ supply chains. Romania, as one of the leading economies in the CEE region, will continue to gain importance in the international business landscape, and we want to grow along with this development.
Source: Rohlig SUUS Logistics