Business Forum • 19 February, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Romania's construction market reached near-record levels in 2025, with work volumes growing almost 8% in the first eleven months compared to the previous year, according to Colliers' annual report. The sector now represents 9% of GDP, the highest share in the European Union and well above the 5% EU average.
The growth is driven primarily by civil engineering projects, including publicly funded infrastructure and major hospitals, which hit record levels in 2025. Non-residential construction increased over 11% compared to 2024, approaching 2023 peak levels, while residential construction grew more than 12%. Overall construction activity reached almost double pre-pandemic levels.
"The data clearly show that Romania's construction market is operating at a very high pace, close to historic highs, with this momentum driven primarily by large-scale public projects," explains Alexandru Atanasiu, Partner and Head of Construction Services at Colliers. "We are referring to volumes of work - the intensity of activity and number of labour hours - rather than the financial value of investments, which makes these results all the more remarkable."
However, the sector faces mounting cost pressures. A new carbon tax on construction materials imported from outside the EU, effective from 2026, could increase costs by 10-15%. Given Romania's heavy reliance on steel, aluminium and other metal imports, construction companies are unlikely to absorb these costs fully. Copper prices rose over 40% in 2025, reaching historic highs, while other base metals also recorded significant increases.
The construction workforce reached a record 462,000 employees in July 2025, up 1% year-on-year. Despite wage pressures in a tight labour market, Romanian construction salaries remain below other CEE countries, providing companies some flexibility. Colliers expects a more balanced market evolution in 2026, with activity continuing to be supported by public investment, provided political stability is maintained.