Finance | 18 December, 2025 at 5:02 PM
CEE banks record 18% gain in assets between 2021 and 2024
Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have recorded an 18% increase in banking assets between 2021 and 2024.
Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have recorded an 18% increase in banking assets between 2021 and 2024.
PPC Blue, part of the PPC Group in Romania, has reached over 1,100 charging points this year, doubling its network from the previous year. More than half of these are fast and ultra-fast charging stations, making it one of Romania's most extensive electric vehicle charging networks.
Lululemon announced plans to expand into six new markets in 2026 through franchise partnerships. The athletic apparel brand will launch in Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary, and Romania through a partnership with Arion Retail Group, as well as in India through Tata CLiQ.
Primark continues its expansion in Romania and confirms the opening of four new stores in 2026. The international fashion retailer announced new stores in Sibiu and Bacău, joining previously announced openings in Iași and Craiova.
The traditional December shopping surge has weakened across Europe, with Romania recording a 20% increase in non-food sales during the holiday month compared to the previous 11 months, according to Colliers analysis of Eurostat data from 2015-2024.
DP World has expanded its operations in Romania with two new mobile harbour cranes and a 119,000 sqm multimodal terminal platform at Constanța South Container Terminal.
Romania's Competition Council has fined three companies a total of RON 135.2 million (€26.6 million) for anti-competitive agreements in the heated tobacco products market.
Holiday spending is decreasing by about 10% this year compared to 2024, as three-quarters of consumers (77%, up from 69% in 2024) expect higher prices on holiday goods.
Engie Romania has doubled its renewable energy capacity to approximately 500 MW following the acquisition of a 253.1 MW wind farm in Ialomița county from Greenvolt Power.
In the East European region, the aggregated construction outlook for next year has remained positive, only the trajectory has changed a little, according to the winter report of the Eastern European Construction Forecasting Association (EECFA).
Metinvest has completed the acquisition of ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Iași, located in eastern Romania.
Nepi Rockcastle has appointed Marius Barbu as COO, effective from April 2026, to succeed Marek Noetzel, current COO and CEO-designate. He has also been nominated as a Board Director and will stand for election at the next AGM in May 2026.
State-owned lender CEC Bank has obtained a €25 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance public sector projects that contribute to sustainable economic development, particularly in regions most affected by climate transition.
Andrei Ianculescu, Head of Project & Development Services at Cushman & Wakefield Echinox, talked to Property Forum about the expansion of design and ESG advisory services, the industrial and logistics sector's growth post-Schengen, and the importance of independent project management for tenant fit-outs. Ianculescu also emphasised the potential in secondary cities and the increasing relevance of aligning projects with sustainability standards.
Local developer ELI Parks has announced the launch of the second phase of the ELI Park Iași project, adding another 20,000 sqm of industrial and logistics spaces to the existing 20,000 sqm.
Cushman & Wakefield Echinox has completed the sale of the Zenith Conference & Spa hotel in Mamaia to the owners of Steaua de Mare Hotels & Resorts from Eforie Nord. The property was previously controlled by the RC2 investment fund and Antares Management, owned by Dumitru Becșenescu.
Socar Petroleum has opened its first petrol station in Baia Mare, bringing its total network to 88 stations across 30 counties in Romania.
Colliers has published a new report focusing on CEE, examining economic and real estate trends across Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The study shows that 2025 brought moderate economic recovery, easing inflation and rising focus on sustainability, while real estate markets were shaped by modernization, limited new office supply, strong logistics demand and retail park expansion.
DN Agrar Group, one of Romania's leading integrated agrifood companies and Europe's largest dairy milk producer, has started operations at its second automated manure composting facility at the Lacto Agrar farm.
TotalEnergies Marketing Romania has announced the appointment of Franck Bagouet as Managing Director of TotalEnergies Marketing Romania and Managing Director Automotive Southeast Europe Hub TotalEnergies Marketing.
Rețele Electrice România, the electricity distribution operator and part of the PPC group in Romania, invested approximately RON 1.4 billion (€280 million) in 2025 in modernisation and digitalisation projects across its distribution networks.
The Romanian Government has officially approved an emergency ordinance aimed at providing relief for the energy market through a temporary reduction in diesel excise duties.
Purcari Wineries has announced that its Romanian subsidiary Crama Ceptura has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of CaraprodVin, a wine producer located in Vârstecoiu Commune, Vrancea County.
Auchan Romania is consolidating its transition to green energy, accelerating the integration of renewable sources in its operations.
Vastint Romania has partnered with Digi Group for the sixth edition of its blood donation campaign, taking place for the first time at Timpuri Noi Square on 6 April 2026.