Romania is emerging as the rising star of CEE investments

Romania is increasingly attracting the attention of international investors, not only as a cost-efficient location but as a market with a rapidly expanding industrial and logistics base. Its consistent economic growth, combined with above-average level of energy self-sufficiency  and rising demand for modern infrastructure, is turning the country into one of the most dynamic investment environments in Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, Romanian companies themselves are developing rapidly and increasingly expanding into international markets, driving demand for more advanced supply chains and cross-border logistics capabilities.

As one of the leaders in economic development in Europe since 1989, over the past 20 years Romania has achieved the highest growth in real household income per capita in the entire European Union, reaching as much as 134%. Country’s potential is clearly recognised by international industry. Romania has already built a strong position in key sectors such as automotive, as well as steel and chemicals. At the same time, we are now seeing growing demand from the energy sector, including renewable energy, with a particularly strong increase in imports of components such as photovoltaic panels.

This growth is directly translating into increasing demand for advanced logistics. Companies operating in Romania are looking not only for efficient transport solutions, but also for comprehensive support in managing both local and global supply chains, ensuring continuity, scalability and operational efficiency.
Thanks to competitive operating costs, access to the EU single market, and a developing infrastructure, Romania is becoming an increasingly attractive location for companies seeking alternatives to manufacturing in Asia. The global nearshoring trend represents a major opportunity for the Romanian economy.In 2025, while the number of investment projects across Europe fell by 7%, Romania attracted more than 100 foreign direct investment projects – 16% more than the previous year. This was accompanied by a 39% increase in the number of jobs created, even as the European average declined over the same period. The country climbed to 11th place in the European FDI attractiveness index, maintaining its second position in the CEE region, with machinery and equipment, IT, and transport and logistics among its strongest sectors

What are the economic strengths of Romania? 

Romania’s location makes it a natural distribution hub for the wider region, spanning the Balkans to Central and Eastern Europe. At the same time, it is well positioned to play a key role in the future reconstruction of Ukraine, supported by infrastructure investments, geographic proximity and growing experience in handling transit flows.

The Port of Constanța is the largest seaport in Romania and one of the most important on the Black Sea, serving as a strategic hub for Central and Eastern Europe as well as a key point in trade with Asia. In 2025, the port handled approximately 67 million tonnes of cargo, confirming its sustained importance for regional and global supply chains. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Constanța has become the only port in the region maintaining regular connections with China.

The country is also heavily investing in the modernization of its transport infrastructure. The construction of the A7 motorway connecting Constanța 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 River provides a unique advantage in inland and intermodal transport, offering a cost-effective alternative to road transport, particularly for oversized and industrial cargo, while enabling efficient connections with markets such as Hungary and further along the Danube corridor towards Central Europe. 

Also, the country’s entry into the Schengen Area in 2025 significantly facilitates trade and logistics, enabling faster flow of goods, lower costs, and greater supply chain predictability. The removal of border controls has eliminated delays previously often reaching over 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 resource uncertainty across Europe, making it an increasingly attractive location for industrial investments. Romania 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, placing Romania among European leaders in this field. This dynamic development drives the import of components such as photovoltaic panels, mainly from Asia, with the Port of Constanța becoming a key logistics hub and efficient customs handling gaining strategic importance

Comprehensive support and future outlook

As Rohlig SUUS Logistics, we have been present in Romania for more than six years and see strong potential in this market. We offer comprehensive logistics services, including road, sea, air, rail and intermodal transport, and have recently expanded our offering to include warehousing in response to growing customer demand. We provide storage, order picking, co-packing and terminal handling, ensuring 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 alongside this development.