Economic confidence among logistics sector companies in Romania declined sharply in the first quarter of 2026, marking the fifth-largest drop in the European Union compared with the historical averages of each country, according to Eurostat data cited by Colliers.

Romania was surpassed only by Slovakia, Germany, Belgium and Hungary in terms of poorer results. The downturn is also reflected in the logistics property market, where leasing demand fell by 56% compared to the first quarter of 2025, to approximately 80,000 square metres. In a more positive note, leasing for manufacturing operations saw a much more positive result, Colliers consultants note, explaining that although confidence remains slightly below its usual average, Romania ranks mid-table across Europe, indicating a degree of resilience within the parts of the industrial sector.

”The decline in industrial and logistics leasing follows a record year in 2025 and points rather to a temporary cooling of activity than to a structural shift in the market. The local logistics and industrial property market is in a balancing act between short-term pressures and long-term potential. At present, the environment is shaped by numerous uncertainties, both domestic – such as political tensions and weakening consumption at the start of the year – and external, where conflicts and global instability complicate development plans”, explains Victor Coșconel, Partner | Head of Leasing | Office & Industrial Agencies at Colliers.

Against this backdrop, demand for leasing logistics and industrial space fell to 80,000 square metres in the first quarter of 2026, according to Colliers data, which includes only transactions for which public information is available; direct deals between landlords and tenants lift the actual level of activity. Heightened caution is directly reflected in corporate decision-making, with companies becoming more reserved in their expansion plans and in leasing new space. However, this trend follows a very strong 2025, particularly supported by activity in the second half of the year.

A significant  part of market activity in this period is driven by renegotiations and space optimisation, in a more cautious economic context. Nevertheless, in the first quarter of 2026, nearly three-quarters of the recorded leases can be considered new demand – contracts that have a net positive impact on occupancy levels – indicating that the market remains relatively robust, Colliers experts underline. Moreover, over half of the contracts relate to manufacturing space, a significantly higher share than the ”normal” average in Romania in recent years, which stood at around 20% in peak years and below 10% in the pre-pandemic period.

” We do not believe that the real estate market can be assessed based on a single weaker quarter, particularly given that the fundamentals supporting Romania in the long term remain solid. This is also supported by favourable elements in the demand structure, such as the high share of new demand in the first quarter, as well as the strong weighting of manufacturing spaces. Furthermore, the progress of infrastructure projects, with nearly 900 kilometres of motorways currently under construction and many more planned, could significantly accelerate the development of the logistics and manufacturing sectors, provided that internal factors are better managed. At the same time, the growing interest of developers in industrial and logistics projects confirms that the outlook remains positive”, adds Victor Coșconel.

Relative to its population and the size of its economy, Romania still faces a significant shortage of industrial and logistics space compared with other Central and Eastern European markets, creating solid premises for development in the coming years. At the same time, structural advantages such as competitive costs and labour productivity continue to support investor interest in this sector. The stock of modern industrial and logistics space exceeded 8 million square metres and could surpass 9 million by the end of next year, provided that the growing interest from developers is supported by stronger occupier demand. The long-term potential remains high, and by the end of the next decade, stock could reach 15 million square metres, assuming a relatively stable external environment and continued investment in infrastructure.