Romania faces energy price spikes, market contraction and industrial decline

In the first quarter of 2026 Romania’s electro‑IT market shrank by 9% in both value and volume, making it the only major Central‑East European market, alongside Poland, to record a decline. Premium appliances account for less than 10% of sales, and Hansa plans new product lines for built‑in kitchen equipment.

Solar generation set a record, covering about 70% of daytime electricity demand. However, the lack of storage caused night‑time electricity prices to surge to roughly 1,360 lei/MWh – about 23 times the midday price – a situation analysts call the “photovoltaic paradox”. Overall daily electricity costs are now about twice those of 2019.

A recent report questions the long‑term viability of new gas projects such as the Neptun Deep field and the Mintia power plant, warning that they may lock the EU into fossil‑fuel dependence. Meanwhile, Romania is being positioned as a key node in the “Vertical Gas Corridor”, with natural‑gas imports rising 46.8% in the first four months of 2026, highlighting the need for diversified supply routes.

Separately, the industrial sector’s share of GDP has fallen from 21% in 2016 to 15.8% today, marking 19 consecutive months of decline. Business leaders stress the importance of brand positioning, digital tools, AI, and workforce development to revive manufacturing competitiveness.