Safety seat belts market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The safety seat belt market in Romania experienced a notable contraction in volume from 107.3 million units in 2018 to 75.6 million in 2020, before recovering to 106.5 million units by 2024. This rebound in demand was underpinned by the continuous enforcement of road legislation mandating seat belt use for all vehicle occupants, including rear-seat passengers, and sustained driver education campaigns on road safety.

Production followed a similar trajectory, declining from 142.4 million units in 2018 to 111.3 million in 2020, then climbing to 141.7 million by 2024. A significant industry development in 2024 was the entry of Autoliv with a new safety belt factory in Onești, a major investment that expanded local manufacturing capacity, occurring alongside the bankruptcy of the domestic producer Te-Rox Prod.

The regulatory environment tightened further in 2024 with the introduction of substantially higher fines for failing to wear a seat belt, applicable even to rear passengers. This change, which placed clear responsibility on drivers to ensure all passengers are belted, provided a direct impetus for compliance and supported the strong market recovery in value, reaching $1 112 million by the end of the period.

Production safety seat belts in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Romania's safety seat belts production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 1 031 million US dollars, marking a 14.6% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 20%, with a compound annual growth rate of -7.2%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 366 million US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 6.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Romania in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, M unit

Romania's safety seat belts production declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 111.3 million units, representing a 16.8% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production dropped by 24.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -8.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Romania in kind, 2017-2020, M unit

Exports safety seat belts from Romania

Exports in kind, K unit

Romania's safety seat belts exports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country exported 38 113 thousand units, which was 29.8% lower than the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 32.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -12.2%. The peak was in 2018 with 62 794 thousand units, which also recorded the largest annual increase of 11.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K unit

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—Germany, Spain, and Czechia—together accounted for 54.6% of Romania's total safety seat belts exports in volume terms.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Romania in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Romania's safety seat belts exports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 420.8 million US dollars, down 18.1% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 20.1%, equating to an annualized rate of -7.2%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 610.4 million US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 15.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Romania in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Germany (23.5% of exports in value terms), Spain (22.1%), and the United Kingdom (9.5%) were consistently the main destinations for Romania's safety seat belts exports, together accounting for 55.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Romania in value, 2017-2020

Imports safety seat belts to Romania

Imports in kind, K unit

The market showed significant volatility during these years. Imports reached their lowest point in 2020 at 2 412 thousand units, down 69.1% from the previous year, and peaked in 2018 at 27 776 thousand units, representing an 11.5-fold difference between these years. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 71.9%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 270.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K unit

Throughout 2017-2020, Italy (44.5% of imports in volume terms), Poland (18.0%), and Czechia (13.1%) formed the core group of markets for Romania's safety seat belts imports, together representing 75.6% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Romania in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Romania's safety seat belts imports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 22.3 million US dollars, constituting a significant drop of 24.7% versus the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 7.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.4%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 32.9 million US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 58.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Romania in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, imports in value terms of safety seat belts to Romania were largely oriented towards Poland and Czechia, whose combined share reached 80.2% of total flows, with other destinations playing a secondary role.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Romania in value, 2017-2020