Consumption levels reached an all-time high in 2024, with the retail market showing significant potential for further growth if current trends persist, according to Colliers experts in their analysis of the sector. Eurostat data revealed a 13% year-on-year increase in non-food purchases this year, bringing sales to 60% above the 2018-2019 average. Romania is recording a 58% increase in the volume of non-food retail sales, the highest in the European Union (EU), highlighting the significant growth potential of the local retail market, Colliers said.
Modern shopping centers with a total leasable area of more than 160,000 sqm were built this year, according to preliminary data from Colliers consultants, who point out that the local market still offers significant growth potential. The city of Pitesti was in the spotlight in 2024, attracting almost 45% of the new space added to the national stock, which reached around 4.7 million sqm.
Two major projects underpinned this performance: the Arges Mall, developed by Prime Kapital/MAS REI, and M Park Pitești, developed by Mitiska. A preliminary estimate for 2025 is for around 200,000 sqm of new deliveries, including the 62,000 sqm expansion of the Mall of Moldova in Iasi by Prime Kapital/MAS REI. Thus, by the end of 2026, Romania could exceed the threshold of 5 million sqm of retail space, marking an important moment in the market from the point of view of developers and investors.
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