EXCLUSIVE: Romania’s business ecosystem is showing severe signs of distress as September 2025 data reveals a staggering 87.45% business churn rate, with companies collapsing at an unprecedented pace despite superficial growth in new registrations.

The Bleeding Continues: 12,951 Businesses Exit Market

The latest figures paint a grim picture of Romania’s economic stability. In September 2025 alone, a shocking 12,951 businesses exited the market through suspensions, dissolutions,. This represents a business collapse rate that should alarm policymakers and investors alike.

The breakdown reveals the depth of the crisis:

• **5,339
• 6,025 businesses deregistered - up 25.42% year-over-year
• 1,587 companies suspended operations - a worrying 39.95% jump from last year

Superficial Growth Masks Deeper Problems

While new registrations showed a 54.51% year-over-year increase to 14,810, this growth appears increasingly fragile and unsustainable. The net business growth of only 1,859 represents a razor-thin margin that could easily turn negative in the coming months.

The health ratio of 1.14 suggests the business ecosystem is barely maintaining positive momentum, with new registrations only slightly outpacing exits.

Geographic Hotspots of Business Collapse

The crisis is particularly acute in Romania’s economic centers:

Bucharest leads the carnage with 1,122 company dissolutions and 179 suspensions,.

Cluj County follows with 326 dissolutions and 103 suspensions, suggesting the much-touted “Silicon Valley of Eastern Europe” is showing cracks in its foundation.

Constanța recorded 257 dissolutions and 158 suspensions, pointing to significant challenges in the Black Sea economic hub.

Sectoral Vulnerabilities Exposed

The data reveals which industries are most at risk:

Wholesale and retail trade leads registrations with 18,223,, but this rapid expansion could signal a bubble rather than sustainable growth.

Professional and technical activities maintain moderate registration levels,, reaching 4,938 new entities. While this might appear positive, experts warn this could indicate workers are being pushed into precarious self-employment rather than stable corporate jobs.

Limited liability companies (SRL) grew by 33.89% to 9,343 registrations, but this growth is overshadowed by the massive exit rates in the same business category.

The Bottom Line: An Ecosystem Under Siege

Romania’s business environment is showing classic signs of stress: high churn rates, fragile growth, and geographic concentration of failures. The 87.45% churn rate means nearly 9 out of every 10 business events involve companies exiting the market rather than sustainable growth.

While superficial registration growth might provide temporary comfort, the underlying data suggests Romania’s economic foundation is weakening. The combination of soaring dissolution rates, increased suspensions, and razor-thin net growth creates a perfect storm that could lead to significant economic contraction if current trends continue.

The warning signs are clear: Romania’s business ecosystem is dangerously unstable, and the current registration boom may be masking a deeper economic crisis.