Romania’s business landscape showed significant sectoral shifts in December 2025, with manufacturing leading an unprecedented 226% year-over-year growth while traditional sectors maintained steady performance and energy-related industries faced challenges.

The Romanian business registration data for December 2025 reveals a complex economic picture, with manufacturing experiencing explosive growth while the overall business ecosystem shows signs of consolidation. Total registrations reached 11,632 , representing a 45.87% increase from December 2024 . However, this growth occurred alongside significant business exits, resulting in a net negative growth of -4,292 companies for the month .

Manufacturing Sector’s Remarkable Surge

The most dramatic story of December 2025 is the manufacturing sector’s extraordinary performance. With 1,018 new registrations , manufacturing showed a staggering 226.28% year-over-year increase from just 312 registrations in December 2024 . This explosive growth suggests significant investment in Romania’s industrial base, potentially driven by reshoring trends, supply chain diversification, or specific government incentives for manufacturing.

The manufacturing boom appears widespread, with major industrial counties showing strong registration growth. Cluj County saw a 64.58% increase in total registrations , while Iași experienced a 95.06% surge . These regional patterns indicate that manufacturing growth is not concentrated in a single area but reflects broader industrial development across Romania.

Transportation and Logistics Maintain Dominance

The transportation and storage sector continued to lead in absolute numbers with 1,832 registrations , representing a healthy 55.78% year-over-year increase . This sector’s consistent strength reflects Romania’s strategic position in European logistics networks and ongoing infrastructure development.

Wholesale and retail trade, traditionally Romania’s largest business sector, maintained steady growth with 1,621 registrations , showing a modest 3.25% increase from the previous year . This stability suggests that despite economic fluctuations, consumer-facing businesses continue to form the backbone of Romania’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Information Technology and Professional Services Show Strong Growth

The information and communications sector demonstrated robust performance with 1,079 registrations , representing a 59.85% year-over-year increase . This growth aligns with Romania’s established position as a technology hub in Eastern Europe and suggests continued digital transformation across the economy.

Professional, scientific, and technical activities also showed strong growth with 1,088 registrations , a 36.68% increase from December 2024 . This sector’s performance indicates growing demand for specialized business services, potentially supporting the manufacturing and technology expansions.

Hospitality and Entertainment Rebound

The hospitality sector showed remarkable recovery with 533 hotel and restaurant registrations , representing a 75.33% year-over-year increase . Similarly, entertainment and cultural activities grew by 76.02% to 389 registrations . These sectors, which were heavily impacted during the pandemic years, appear to be experiencing sustained recovery.

Energy Sector Faces Challenges

In contrast to the overall growth trends, the energy production and supply sector showed concerning declines. With only 45 registrations in December 2025 , this sector experienced a 47.06% decrease from the previous year . This decline may reflect regulatory challenges, investment patterns, or market consolidation in the energy sector.

Regional Variations and Business Ecosystem Health

The business registration growth showed significant regional variation. While Bucharest maintained its position as the largest business center with 2,683 registrations , smaller counties showed even more dramatic growth rates. Maramureș County led with a 125.86% increase , followed by Suceava at 92.48% .

However, the business ecosystem shows signs of consolidation. The overall churn rate reached 136.9% , meaning more businesses exited than entered the market. Several counties showed particularly high churn rates, with Argeș at 183.28% and Constanța at 178.86% .

Structural Shifts in Business Formation

The data reveals significant shifts in business entity preferences. Individual enterprises (PFA) showed explosive growth of 108.93% year-over-year , reaching 3,650 registrations . This suggests a trend toward smaller, more agile business structures, possibly driven by digital platforms and freelance opportunities.

Limited liability companies (SRL) remained the dominant business form with 7,629 registrations , showing a solid 27.4% year-over-year increase .

Conclusion

December 2025’s business registration data paints a picture of a Romanian economy undergoing significant structural transformation. The manufacturing sector’s explosive growth suggests Romania may be positioning itself as a manufacturing hub, while traditional sectors like transportation and retail maintain steady performance. The strong recovery in hospitality and entertainment indicates continued normalization from pandemic disruptions.

However, the high business churn rate and negative net growth suggest that while new businesses are forming at an impressive rate, many existing businesses are exiting the market. This pattern may indicate market consolidation, competitive pressures, or economic restructuring rather than simple expansion.

The regional variations show that economic growth is spreading beyond traditional centers like Bucharest, with smaller counties experiencing particularly strong registration increases. This decentralization could signal more balanced regional development and reduced economic concentration in major urban areas.

As Romania’s business ecosystem evolves, the December 2025 data provides clear evidence of sectoral shifts that will likely shape the country’s economic trajectory in the coming years.