DSV road report shows growing demand for road transport in Romanian automotive sector

According to a new report by DSV Road, Romania’s imports and exports are dominated by the automotive, fast-moving consumer goods, healthcare, technology and electronics, and fashion sectors.

“Despite the challenges in the market, the most active sectors remained relatively stable compared to last year. The automotive sector led the way with a 25% increase in demand for transport services from DSV Road’s portfolio. Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) generated 20% of total transport solutions, which is comparable to the healthcare, technology and electronics sectors, while the fashion industry accounted for a 15% share,” said Daniel Babii, Business Development Director at DSV Road, commenting on the report.

In addition, DSV Road data indicates an upward trend in the agricultural sector, which is characterized by increased exports of grains, vegetables, fruits and agricultural machinery in the first months of the year. Here, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary have become the main destinations for Romanian road transport.

On the other hand, the report added that Romania is struggling with a trade deficit and imports more goods and services than it exports in various sectors.

The latest data from the National Institute of Statistics shows that Romania’s exports increased by 0.8% to €31.288 billion in the first four months of 2024, while imports increased by 1.7% to €40.609 billion compared to the same period last year.

On a positive note, DSV Road recorded a 22% increase in export activity in the first two months of 2024 compared to 2023. This increase is attributed to the development of production in Romania, especially in the automotive and electronics sectors, driven by international companies.

DSV Road says the development of the Romanian motorway network and the quality of its products have contributed to the country’s growing exports.

“Romania has significant potential for freight transport. Extending the motorways by 2,000 km could lead to a 38% growth in the industry and, as a result, increase trade between Romania and the EU. Currently, we are witnessing moderate growth in transport, supported by a growing number of customers and the development of sectors such as e-commerce and automotive, where volumes are growing. Public transport remains the most popular service, but intermodal transport is growing the fastest due to lower costs and companies’ preferences for environmentally friendly methods,” Babii added.