Sunday, 25 May 2025
Bucharest has emerged as one of the most dynamic industrial and logistics markets in the European Union, ranking 7th in terms of market activity and 5th for growth over the past decade, according to new data released by real estate consultancy Colliers. The city’s modern stock of leasable industrial and logistics space has grown from around 900,000 square metres in 2015 to over 3.6 million square metres in 2025, with the potential to reach 4 million by year-end.
This expansion places Bucharest alongside leading growth markets such as Szczecin, Gdansk, Kraków, Łódź, Stockholm, and Gothenburg. Despite broader economic uncertainty, the industrial and logistics sector continues to perform strongly, with the first quarter of 2025 recording a 50% increase in leasing activity compared to the same period last year.
“The industrial and logistics segment has become one of the most resilient and active areas within Romania’s real estate sector,” said Victor Coșconel, Partner and Head of Leasing for Office and Industrial Agencies at Colliers. He noted that while the western and north-western peripheries of Bucharest have historically been the centre of logistics development, interest is now shifting to the southern and eastern parts of the capital. These emerging areas offer lower land costs, improved labour availability, and increasingly favourable infrastructure.
Nationwide, Romania’s stock of modern industrial space has expanded significantly over the past decade, increasing from 1.6 million square metres in 2015 to more than 7.6 million in 2025. Much of this growth has taken place outside Bucharest, where the market has expanded from 700,000 square metres to nearly 4 million. Regional industrial hubs in Transylvania and southern Romania are benefiting from growing interest among manufacturers and logistics operators, who are drawn to these locations by competitive wages, larger labour pools, and ongoing infrastructure improvements.
Coșconel explained that the post-pandemic period has widened the growth gap between Bucharest and the rest of the country. “The expansion of manufacturing activity in regional cities has accelerated demand for modern logistics facilities, particularly in areas with strong road access and workforce availability,” he said.
Despite rapid development, Romania still offers room for further expansion compared to more mature regional markets such as Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. One of Romania’s advantages is the high intensity with which it uses its industrial and logistics infrastructure. Colliers data shows that Romania exports over 7 million tonnes of goods for every 1 million square metres of leasable logistics space, compared to 6 million tonnes in Poland and 5 million in the Czech Republic.
In the first quarter of 2025, publicly recorded industrial and logistics leasing transactions totalled approximately 156,000 square metres. Notable deals included Delamode’s renegotiation and expansion of its 30,000-square-metre lease at CTPark Bucharest West, a 20,000-square-metre lease by automotive parts distributor NRF at MLP Bucharest West, and a 40,000-square-metre lease by Dutch retailer Action at WDP Dragomirești, marking its entry into the Romanian market.
Logistics firms accounted for more than half of the total leased space in Q1, followed by companies in the retail and automotive sectors. The steady demand from core logistics operators reflects confidence in the long-term potential of Romania’s strategic location, competitive costs, and access to the EU’s large consumer base.
Colliers cautions that while the outlook for the industrial and logistics segment remains strong, the market is not without risks. A mix of domestic and international uncertainties could affect short- and medium-term performance. Nevertheless, Romania’s core advantages—favourable labour productivity relative to wage levels and strategic proximity to key European markets—position the country well to continue attracting investment in the sector.
As developers and investors look ahead, Colliers expects Romania’s logistics landscape to remain one of the most active in the region. Strong fundamentals, ongoing infrastructure improvements, and rising domestic consumption are likely to support continued growth across both Bucharest and regional markets.
