40% growth for road builders despite 17% decline of construction sector

Road builders were on the top position of the ranking ten most important constructions firms in late 2009 and atop of that, most of them are seeing growth, though Romania has the smallest highway length in the EU, with just 321 km, and the constructions market dropped by 17%. The top five builders, Romstrade of Giurgiu, Hidroconstructia, Spedition UMB of Bacau, Strabag (Austria) and Tehnologica Radion, boast the biggest turnovers from road rehabilitation and infrastructure works, with the total amount standing at 1bn euros, around 8% of the total value of the constructions market, which last year revolved around 12bn euros. The paradox can be explained by last year’s real estate steep decline, and the Compania Nationala de Autostrazi si Drumuri Nationale (National Highway and Road Company of Romania – CNADNR) had a record high budget for national road and highway investments, of 8.9bn RON (2.1bn euros). The companies that had road rehabilitation contracts saw their turnovers rise by between 4% and 44%.