Romania’s retail market added approximately 80,000 square meters of commercial space in the first half of 2026, compared with around 122,000 square meters during the same period in 2025. Modern retail stock has therefore surpassed 5.2 million square meters, according to the latest Colliers report.

Retail Deliveries Decline in the First Half of 2026

The lower volume is mainly explained by the lack of large-scale projects, given that the expansion of Mall Moldova accounted for almost half of the deliveries in the first half of last year.

For the full year, Colliers now estimates deliveries of approximately 150,000 square meters, down from the initial forecast of 230,000 square meters. The main projects completed in the first part of the year include the expansion of Arena Mall in Bacău and the first phase of Urbano Shopping & Living in Cluj-Napoca.

More Cautious Consumer Spending, but the Market Remains Resilient

The market is being affected by declining consumer confidence, higher taxes and pricing pressures. Nevertheless, retail sales remain solid compared with developments in recent years, while dominant shopping centers continue to maintain high occupancy rates.

Retailers’ interest in Romania remains strong, including interest from new international brands.

2027 Could Bring a New Record in Retail Deliveries

The pipeline for 2027 is considerably stronger. The five largest projects alone could add approximately 140,000 square meters, in addition to several retail parks.

According to Colliers, 2027 could become the most active year for retail deliveries in the past 15 years, provided that projects stay on schedule and the economy stabilizes in the second half of 2026.