DP World boosts European trade with €130m investment in Romania

DP World on Wednesday opened three major new sites in Romania, providing a significant boost to the country’s growing status as a key hub of European trade and enabling economic growth throughout the region.

Constanta, the largest container port on the Black Sea, is now home to two new facilities following a €65 million investment: a 5-hectares ‘project’ cargo terminal for heavy, large and complex cargo, and a new ‘roll-on, roll-off’ (RO-RO) terminal that will handle up to 80,000 vehicles per year at its peak. A further €50 million will be invested in a new multi-transport platform in Constanta that will open in 2025.

DP World’s third new facility opening today is in Aiud, in the industrial heartland of Romania, which is now home to a new 8-hectares ‘intermodal’ logistics hub connecting rail and road, following a €21 million investment.

The new facilities will improve the connectivity between DP World’s existing sea, rail, barge and truck services across Romania and will enhance the movement of goods between mainland Europe through to the Black, North and Adriatic Seas. DP World has invested over €250 million in Romania since 2004, including grants from the European Union.

The latest infrastructure projects were announced as DP World marks the 20th anniversary of its investment in Romania, the first European country in which it expanded.

Rashid Abdulla, CEO and Managing Director, DP World Europe, said, “Romania is a dynamic economy and well positioned to benefit from the rise in nearshoring and manufacturing. DP World looks forward to building on our long-standing relationship with Romania, and to deploying our latest investments to support Romania as it plays an increasingly important role in trade and economic growth in the region.”

Cosmin Carstea, CEO DP World Romania, added, “DP World’s latest investments in Romania will increase the cargo flows by around two million tonnes per annum through the country. We believe that with this investment, DP World in Constanta will significantly strengthen its position as one of the most important container and RO-RO hubs in Central and Eastern Europe. To aid this, we also plan to open a centre of excellence for services in the Balkans, to facilitate trade for the countries around Romania.”

Sorin Grindeanu, Minister of Transportation of Romania, stated, “The Romanian government welcomes DP World’s latest investment in Romania’s logistics infrastructure. DP World has been a strong partner to Romania for twenty years. Constanta port has opened Romania to new markets and trading opportunities, provided stable and skilled jobs and catalysed the development of a whole host of adjacent businesses.”

Separately, DP World has formed a partnership with freight mobility company Einride to electrify inter-terminal container flows at Jebel Ali Port, improving efficiency and sustainability at the 10th busiest port in the world. This will be the largest deployment of electric, autonomous freight mobility in the Middle East, operating 24/7 to reshape the landscape of transport in the region.

Starting at the end of 2024, the partnership will quickly scale up to support approximately 1,600 container movements daily. The expansion will be made possible through a fleet of 100 connected electric trucks, managed through Einride Saga, Einride’s digital operating system designed to analyze, optimise and maximise the efficiency of electric and autonomous road freight operations. An autonomous pilot is slated for deployment in 2025.