Romania was one of the few EU countries where sales of commercial vehicles were up at the start of 2013. The latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) show that in Romania, total new commercial vehicle registrations during January were 35.4 percent higher than the same month in 2012. Meanwhile, the EU average was a 10.6 percent fall in new commercial vehicle registrations, according to ACEA figures published today (February 28 ).

Romania is a very small market and the overall figures are low, so it should be remembered that even a small increase or decrease in the number of sales can dramatically change the percentage. In Romania, there were 1,209 new commercial vehicles registered in January this year, against 893 in January 2012. New coach and bus registrations increased by a whopping 1,993.3 percent, from just 15 in January 2012 to 314 in January this year. New medium and heavy commercial vehicles over 3.5t were down 24.2 percent, from 223 last year to 169 in January 2013.

Registrations of heavy vehicle over 16t were also down by a similar amount, 204 last year compared to 156 in the first month of 2013 – a 23.5 percent drop. Finally, sales of the largest group, light commercial vehicles, were up by 10.8 percent, from 655 in January last year compared to 726 in the first month of 2013.

Romania was one of only six EU countries to register an overall increase in the registrations of commercial vehicles in January. Bulgaria saw the biggest rise – up 81.1 percent – while three other Central and Eastern European countries also registered increases – Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. The UK was the only big Western European market to show a year-on-year increase. Registrations were up 5.4 percent to over 19,000.

editor@romania-insider.com