Romania ranks fifth in Central Europe, with 33 companies among the first 500 in the region, according to a top recently published by Deloitte. The top, carried out by Deloitte in 18 countries every year, is now at its 4th edition and ranks companies by revenues from sales reported for the previous year.

Petrom is the first Romanian company in the top, ranking 25th in the region. It is followed by Automobile Dacia, on the 48th place and by Rompetrol, ranking 70th. Metro Cash & Carry follows on the 92nd position, while Orange Romania is on the 143th spot.

Some of these companies represent local brands – Petrom, Automobile Dacia, Rompetrol, Romtelecom, Romgaz, Transelectrica, Hidroelectrica, CFR Calatori, Mediplus Exim, Electrocentrale Bucuresti, RCS&RDS, ALRO, Nuclearelectrica. (see below the entire ranking for Romania). Romanian companies companies listed from Romania posted revenues from sales of EUR 402 billion last year, according to the top.

“The consequences of an extremely difficult year have significantly impacted the final results in 2009, all over the region,” said George Mucibabici, Chairman with Deloitte Romania. “After three years of sustained growth, the combined revenues of the first 500 companies in Central Europe fell more than 21%, from EUR 665.72 billion to EUR 525.6 billion. However, the first quarter of 2010 brought the first signs of recovery, with 70% of the companies seeing their revenues grow in this period. This appears to be taking place in most countries and sectors, with some exceptions.”

The top of the largest companies in Romania is still dominated by the Energy & Resources industry, with 13 companies, followed by Consumer Business and Transportation (10), Manufacturing (4), Telecommunication (5) and, for the first time for the Romanian economy, one company from the pharmaceutical distribution industry (Mediplus Exim).