Approximately 190,000 sq.m. of new deliveries over the course of the year further bolstered an inventory that remains concentrated primarily in Bucharest and five other major cities, which together account for nearly 50% of the total.
According to market experts, despite this increase, Romania still lags behind other Central and Eastern European countries in retail space per capita, indicating substantial potential for new developments.
“The milestone of five million sq.m. reflects the gradual maturation of the market, but there is still considerable progress to be made,” states Simina Niculiță, Director | Partner | Retail Agency at Colliers. “With approximately 260 sq.m. per 1,000 inhabitants, Romania falls significantly short of Poland or the Czech Republic, where corresponding figures exceed 400 sq.m. Nevertheless, Romanians are already consuming more than their neighbors, and wages in Bucharest have surpassed those in Budapest, approaching levels seen in Warsaw.”
In 2025, the average Romanian spent nearly €800 on clothing and footwear, according to Oxford Economics — an amount 25% higher than the average Pole and almost double that of a Hungarian consumer.
“It may seem paradoxical that Romanians spend more than Europeans with higher incomes, but cultural differences play a decisive role. External appearance holds great importance in Romania, and consumers invest accordingly,” Niculiță explains.
Major Deliveries in 2025
New retail space deliveries amounted to approximately 190,000 sq.m. The largest project was the expansion of Mall Moldova in Iași, totaling nearly 60,000 sq.m., while notable developments included the reopening of Agora Arad after almost a decade, and the expansions of Iulius Mall Suceava and Coresi Shopping Resort Brașov.
Colliers also included over 150,000 sq.m. of older shopping centers that were renovated and positively repositioned in the market with the return of international brands.
Specifically, Bucharest and its surrounding municipalities account for nearly 1.3 million sq.m. of retail space. The next five counties — Timiș, Iași, Bihor, Argeș, and Cluj — collectively reach 1.1 million sq.m., with most of the space concentrated in the county capitals.
Outlook for 2026
According to Colliers’ preliminary estimates, approximately 250,000 sq.m. of new retail space is expected in 2026, with significant projects including:
-
M Park Galați, 30,000 sq.m., developed by the UK-based fund M Core,
-
A new expansion of approximately 25,000 sq.m. at Palas Mall Iași by the Iulius Group.
Given these developments, the Romanian retail market appears poised to continue its upward trajectory, maintaining strong momentum in a region that is still in the growth phase.
