This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/25/2019

RAIL, ROADS and PORTS
 

Overview

The Romanian transport infrastructure is underdeveloped and needs investment and modernization.  The EU has allocated 10.8 billion euros ($12.088 bln.) under the Operational Program for Large Infrastructure for 2014-2020 (including Government cofinancing).

Leading Sub-Sectors

Road Infrastructure
Although the government has had a long-term master plan for highways in place, only 596 km of highway have been constructed since joining the EU in 2007.  In December 2018, the total highway length in Romania was 806 km, 7.9% longer than in 2017 (by 56 Km).

At the end of 2018, there were 86,234 km of public roads, of which 17,740 km were national roads, 35,085 km were county roads, and 33,409 km were communal roads.  Out of the total length of national roads, 34.9% (6194 km) were European roads and 4.6% (823 km) were highways.  Moreover, 1.6% (290 km) of national roads were three-lane roads, 10.6% (1,873 km) were four-lane roads, and 0.2% (31 km) were six-lane roads. 

The government has prioritized several highway projects to be constructed in the upcoming ten years (through Public Private Partnership): Motorway Targu Mures – Iasi – Ungheni (310 km, approx. $9.962 bln.), Motorway Bucharest – Alexandria – Craiova (195 km, $867.5 mln.), Motorway Brasov – Sibiu (120 km, $895.5 mln.), Motorway "Moldavia", on Bucharest-Chisinau route (3,325 km, $1.39 bln.), Motorway Ploiesti - Rasnov  (109.3 km, $1.679 bln.), Motorway Constanta - Vama Veche (49 km, $53.9 mln.).

Road Opportunities
All of the above represent opportunities for American companies. Additionally, lots 3 and 4 of express road Craiova-Pitesti (total length 121 km, total value $1.17 bln.; lots 3 and 4 length 63.45 km, value $0.6 bln.) are currently getting their tender documentation updated, to be launched in 2019, according to a statement by Prime Minister Dancila in March 2019. Lot 4 of Sibiu-Pitesti motorway Tigveni-Curtea de Arges is currently under public auction, with the deadline on June 4th, 2019 (total length 122.1 motorway, total value $5.86 bln.; lot 4 length 9.86 km, value $0.47 bln).

Rail and Underground Infrastructure
The rail system is in great need of upgrading and investment.  The average freight rail speed in the country is 13 km/hr.  While this presents a challenge for managing supply chains, U.S. companies can benefit from the opportunity of rail upgrades.  10,765 km of public railroads were in use in 2018, of which 98.7% (10,627 km) were normal gauge lines, 4 km were narrow gauge lines, and 1.3% (134 km) were large gauge lines.  The length of electrified railways in use was 4,029 km (37.4% of total length).  The network is well connected with Europe, providing pan-European passenger services through several passes.

Rail and Underground Opportunities
In February 2019, according to National Railway Company “CFR” S.A., the new projects under procurement included:
  1. Rehabilitation works for bridges, footbridges, and tunnels – SRCF Brasov, Iasi, Timisoara, Craiova, Cluj, Bucharest including feasibility studies: value $185.79 mln.
  2. Modernization of railway stations Tg. Mures and Sf. Gheorghe: value of the contract estimated at $1.03 mln.
  3. Modernization of 112 track crossings - $15.92 mln.
  4. Detection system for overheated axle boxes and pressed brakes - $2.57 mln.
  5. Rehabilitation of Brasov – Simeria  line, component of Rhine-Danube Corridor (IV Pan European), for the maximum speed of 160 km/h; sector: Coslariu-Simeria - $76.56 mln.
  6. Rehabilitation of Brasov – Simeria line, component of Rhine-Danube Corridor (IV Pan European), for the maximum speed of 160 km/h; sector: Coslariu-Sighisoara, $89.91 mln.
  7. Rehabilitation of  Curtici – Simeria border line, component of Rhine-Danube Corridor (IV Pan European), for the maximum speed of 160 km/h; sector: Gurasada and Gurasada-Simeria, $ 0.28 bln.
  8. Reparations and modernization for Bucuresti – Brasov, Timisoara – Arad, Bucuresti – Buzau, Bucuresti – Craiova, Pascani – Iasi, Bucuresti – Constanta, Bucuresti – Pitesti - $6.34 mln.
  9. Modernizing of Bucuresti Nord – Jilava – Giurgiu Nord – Frontiera ( Feasibility study) - $3.91 mln.
  10.  Electrification and rehabilitation of the railway line Cluj – Oradea – Episcopia Bihor: $1.24 mln.
  11. Modernization of electromechanical centralization Siculeni – Adjud - $12.88 mln.
  12. Revision of Feasibility Study for the railway connection Bucharest-Henri Coanda Airport – $0.4 mln.
  13. Modernization of 47 railway stations (Feasibility studies) - $6.32 mln.
  14.  Railway consultancy for works – Fetesti and Ciulnita - $2.36 mln.
  15. ERTMS implementation Predeal – Bucuresti – Constanta (feasibility studies) - $2.62 mln.
  16. Extension and planning of railway infrastructure of Calafat Port - $6.09 mln
  17. Underground line International Airport Henri Coanda – Otopeni - $0.4 bln.
  18. Underground line Bucharest - Drumul Taberei – Universitate (METROREX) – $104.66 mln.
  19.  Underground Berceni – Pipera (METROREX) - improvement of passenger transport services – $145.63 mln.
  20. Rehabilitation of railway bridges over the Danube river (Bucharest-Constanta) - $0.91 mln.
  21. According to National Railway Company “CFR” S.A., there were many projects under preparation or ready to be launched in 2018, concentrating on the rehabilitation and modernization of railways.
(https://mobilitate.eu/proiecte-feroviare-buget-2019/)

Constanta Maritime and River Port Infrastructure
Constanta port is located at the crossroads linking the markets of the landlocked European countries to the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Far East (through Corridor IV - rail and road, Corridor VII – Danube, inland waterway linked to Danube-Black Sea Canal, and Corridor IX - road, which passes through Bucharest).  The two satellite ports Midia and Mangalia are part of the Romanian maritime port system under the coordination of the Constanta Port Administration.

The port of Constanta is a main distribution center for Central and Eastern Europe It is a multi-purpose port with the deepest operational water in the Black Sea (19 m), accommodating the largest vessels passing through the Bosporus straits (Istanbul,Turkey).  Constanta Port has a handling capacity of over 100 million tons per year and 156 berths, of which 140 berths are operational.  The total quay length is 29.83 km, and the depths range between 8 and 19 m.  The port could receive sea-going vessels of 165,000 dwt and bulk carriers of 220,000 dwt, containers – 10,000 TEU (due to Bosporus limitations).

The Danube is one of the most advantageous transport means in terms of cost and capacity, making it an efficient alternative to the congested European rail and road transport.

Port Opportunities
The Port’s projects portfolio (to be financed under Operational Program Large Infrastructure, Regional Operational Program, Connecting Europe Facility – Transport, and other means, for 2014-2020 and 2021-2027) includes:
  1. Modernization of port infrastructure - $47.7 mln.
  2. Road expansion to 4 lanes - $25.77 mln.
  3. Infrastructure works for the development of specialized terminals – $323.52 mln.
  4. Modernization of power system - $32.91 mln.
  5. Modernization of water and sewage system - $43.62 mln.
  6. Development of a high depth specialized berth - $5.35 mln.
  7. Doubling the railway between Agigea Lock and Port Constanta - $3.51 mln.
  8. Development of artificial Island - phase 1 - $351 mln.
  9. Road bridge across the link canal (Flyover) - $35.14 mln.
  10. Wind power plant - $66.93 mln.
  11. Barge terminal – second phase - $41.61 mln.
  12. Upgrade of infrastructure and environmental protection – $14.17 mln.
  13. DAPHNE - Danube Ports Network - $3.32 mln.

Events
55th ESReDA Seminar (9-10 October 2018, Bucharest, Romania):  https://www.esreda.org/event/55th-esreda-seminar/ 
Expo Trafic Romania Trade Show (October 2019, Bucharest, Romania): http://www.expotrafic.ro
The 15th Romanian National Congress of roads and bridges (September 2019) http://www.apdp.ro/en/

Web Resources
Length of transport means in 2018: http://www.insse.ro/cms/ro/tags/comunicat-lungime-drumuri-publice
Wikiwand: http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Highways_in_Romania
EBRD ready to support infrastructure development in Romania
Port of Constanta: http://www.portofconstantza.com/apmc/
Projects funded by European Funds – National Railway Company “CFR” S.A.: http://www.cfr.ro/
Rail Investments Opportunities Romania: Romanian state-owned railway company needs EUR 12.2 bln for ...

Contact Information
Name: Mihaela Dodoiu
Email: mihaela.dodoiu@trade.gov
 

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Romania Public Sector Trade Development and Promotion