Business Forum • 9 July, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Romania continues to gain visibility on the European industrial and logistics investment map, at a time when companies are looking for competitive markets for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. Two-thirds of the European regions with the strongest profile for manufacturing activities are located in just four countries – Poland, Spain, Romania and France – according to the report "ExCEEding Borders: CEE & Iberia: Driving Europe's Industrial Transformation", published by Colliers.
In Romania's case, 36 counties, the equivalent of nearly 9 in 10, are included in the category of the most attractive regions for industrial investment. With a total stock of more than 8 million sqm of modern industrial and logistics space at the beginning of 2026, of which nearly 3.9 million sqm are in Bucharest, and around 450,000 sqm under construction nationwide, Romania is the third-largest market in the CEE-14 region, after Poland and the Czech Republic. The market continues to grow at a sustained pace, driven by investment in manufacturing, logistics and infrastructure, and is among the regional markets where the development of energy-efficient space is gaining traction amid demand for green-certified buildings.
"Central and Eastern Europe is no longer seen merely as a region with growth potential, but is increasingly becoming a strategic hub for European manufacturing. Romania is appearing more and more frequently on the shortlist of companies rethinking their networks in Europe. Infrastructure remains the main sensitive point, but progress is visible. If the current pace continues, Romania has a real chance of reaching approximately 2,000 kilometres of motorway by the end of this decade, more than double the level recorded in 2019," explains Victor Coşconel, Partner at Colliers.
The evolution is also visible in market data. In 2025, demand for industrial and logistics space in Romania reached a new high, with nearly 1 million sqm leased, almost double the level recorded in 2024. Before the pandemic, transactions for manufacturing space accounted for a low single-digit share of total leasing activity, but now manufacturing activities account for at least 20% of the area leased annually. In 2023-2024, the manufacturing segment even represented more than one-third of leasing demand. The trend is supported by nearshoring and the expansion of road infrastructure, which is making more regional cities viable for industrial investment. Bucharest remains the main industrial market, although the capital's share of total demand is gradually declining as regional cities attract investment. "We are seeing a transition from a market dominated almost exclusively by logistics and distribution towards a more complex one. Among the major commercial real estate segments, industrial probably has the greatest long-term growth potential," adds Coşconel.
Romania remains competitive in terms of market indicators. The vacancy rate stands at around 5%, while prime rents for modern industrial space range between €4.5 and €5 per sqm per month. Investment yields for prime projects are estimated at around 7.75%, above the levels recorded in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. The CEE-6 remains the core of the industrial and logistics market in Central and Eastern Europe, accounting for more than 80% of the modern stock in the wider region. In total, modern stock is approaching 70 million sqm, while nearly 5 million sqm were under construction at the end of 2025. Domestic and regional capital already accounts for 58% of total investment volumes. The Colliers report shows the differences are becoming clearer between modern, energy-efficient buildings aligned with ESG standards and older stock, with quality assets attracting higher demand and better occupancy rates.
One relevant example of Europe's new industrial geography is the electric vehicle and electronics corridor, which starts in northern Poland, crosses the Czech-Slovak-Hungarian industrial area and reaches western Romania and Bulgaria. For Romania, the report highlights a competitive profile particularly in terms of costs, incentives and labour force. "Location decisions are no longer made only at the country level, but at the level of region, city, industrial corridor and supplier ecosystem. For Romania, the key challenge is to turn its cost advantage into a structural advantage, through better infrastructure, predictability, a skilled labour force and modern industrial parks," says Coşconel. Colliers consultants estimate that Romania could reach a stock of 10-12 million sqm of modern industrial and logistics space by the end of the decade, if current trends continue.