## Company Profile TRAMAR SA — Romania-based freight forwarder (website: https://www.tramar.ro/). As a generalist forwarding company (Director General: Claudiu Apostol listed on lead), TRAMAR likely provides international road haulage, customs clearance and freight forwarding services for importers and exporters in Romania (including consolidated LTL/FTL road services, sea/port collections to/from Constanța, and customs brokerage). Public scale metrics were not available in the search; company appears to be a national/regional forwarder operating in the Romanian export/import market. ## Pain Points 1) Capacity & reliability during peak grain/export windows: tight terminal/rail/barge capacity at Constanța and Danube ports, longer dwell times and inland trucking shortages create rate volatility and service unreliability for TRAMAR’s export clients. 2) Rapidly rising compliance & data demands: eFTI (Aug 2025), ICS2 Release 3, NCTS changes, CBAM reporting and ETS/ETS2 fuel cost pass-through require integrated data flows and advisory capability many Romanian forwarders lack. 3) Margin pressure from fuel/carbon cost pass-through and driver shortages: higher operating costs (road fuel price uplifts from ETS2, driver shortages) force forwarders to either absorb costs, pass them to clients, or lose volume — and they must present modal alternatives (rail/intermodal) to retain customers. ## Intel Summary === MULTI-DIMENSION RESEARCH === === 1. [MARKET EVENTS] Romania freight forwarding market, Constanța port, Black Sea rerouting of Ukrainian grain (focus to 2026) === **Role of Constanța & recent container throughput** - Port of Constanța remains the main container hub in the Black Sea, with **989,795 TEU handled in 2024**, up from ~861,000 TEU in 2023 (about **+15% y/y**).([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Constan%C8%9Ba?utm_source=openai)) - Black Sea container terminals in Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine together handled **979,000 TEU in Jan–Sep 2024**, **+14% y/y** versus Jan–Sep 2023, driven partly by Ukraine-linked flows and regional recovery in containerized trade.([maritime-executive.com](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai)) - Constanța’s role as a relay hub: by early 2024, local forwarders were already operating **feeder vessels between Constanța and Chornomorsk (Ukraine)**, signalling a shift from all‑truck/rail to more sea‑sea transshipment for Ukrainian cargo.([maritime-executive.com](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai)) **Ukrainian grain rerouting via Romania & the Danube–Constanța corridor** - Since Russia’s full‑scale invasion (Feb 2022), Ukraine has increasingly used Romania’s **Danube ports (Galați, Brăila) and Constanța** as alternative export routes. - Various EC and industry updates through late‑2024/early‑2025 indicate: - At peak in 2023, **up to ~60% of Ukrainian grain exports to non‑EU destinations** were routed through EU “Solidarity Lanes,” with **Romanian ports (Danube + Constanța) capturing a large share** of the Black Sea segment. (Figure varies by month and commodity, but Romania has consistently been one of the top two corridors alongside Poland.)([maritime-executive.com](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai)) - Constanța’s grain terminals have been operating near capacity for much of 2023–2024, prompting ongoing private investments in silos, rail sidings, and barge handling capacity to accommodate both Romanian and Ukrainian crops. (Data points from port statistics and trade press converge on **double‑digit growth in grain volumes 2022–2024**, albeit from different baselines.)([maritime-executive.com](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai)) **Implications for Romanian freight forwarders (2024–2026)** - **Modal mix & network changes** - Freight forwarding activities in Romania have shifted towards **multimodal chains**: truck + rail + barge to Constanța, then deep‑sea vessel. The Danube–Constanța corridor is now a structural component of Ukrainian export logistics rather than a temporary workaround.([maritime-executive.com](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai)) - Forwarders with strong port logistics and river barge partnerships have gained share. New entrants such as **PSA‑BDP International Romania** explicitly target a “top position” in the Romanian market, building on port logistics and intermodal capabilities and **planning a dedicated footprint in Constanța Port by 2026** (warehouse + contract logistics).([traficmedia.ro](https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai)) - **Capacity & congestion** - While absolute container numbers at Constanța are still below major EU hubs, the **double‑digit TEU growth combined with heavy bulk grain flows** creates tight terminal, rail‑yard, and trucking capacity around harvest peaks. - Industry interviews in early‑2025 describe: - **Higher inland freight rates** on corridors into Constanța, especially from western Romania and neighboring countries. - **Increased dwell times** for wagons and trucks during grain export surges, pushing some shippers to forward‑book rail slots and barge capacity weeks in advance. - **2026 outlook** - Trade and port‑logistics reports published in late‑2024/early‑2025 generally expect: - Ukrainian export volumes to **remain elevated through at least 2026**, even if some flows return to Ukraine’s own Black Sea ports, because of continuing security risks and insurance costs in the northern Black Sea. - Constanța to consolidate its role as a **regional hub not only for grain, but also for containerized and project cargo** to/from Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkans. - Ongoing **capex in silos, rail capacity, and intermodal terminals** around Constanța and along the Danube, supporting additional throughput growth in 2025–2026, albeit at more moderate rates than the 2022–2024 surge.([maritime-executive.com](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai)) **Key commercial signals for forwarders** - High and relatively sticky volumes of **bulk agri exports** (Romanian + Ukrainian) and **growing container traffic** are: - Supporting the business case for specialized **agri‑logistics services** (quality preservation, fumigation, blending, certification). - Increasing the attractiveness of **contract logistics and warehousing in and around Constanța** as part of risk‑buffering strategies (larger safety stocks near port). - Driving foreign strategic players (port operators, ocean carriers, integrated logistics providers) to expand Romanian operations, intensifying competition for local forwarders but also deepening the market. **Sources — Market Events** ([maritime-executive.com](https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai)) === 2. [DEMAND SIGNALS] EU road freight capacity, driver shortage, impact on Romanian exporters & multimodal/rail demand (focus to 2026) === **EU road freight capacity & driver shortage – status and trajectory** - European and CEE road freight markets continue to report **structural driver shortages**: - Pre‑war estimates put EU‑wide truck driver vacancies at **~400,000–500,000 positions**, with Central and Eastern Europe among the hardest hit. Post‑2022, shortages have been exacerbated by demographic ageing and the return of some Ukrainian drivers to Ukraine. (Recent 2024–2025 trucking association reports confirm that shortages remain “severe,” with vacancy rates in some CEE countries exceeding **10% of required drivers**.)([traficmedia.ro](https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai)) - Wage inflation and compliance with the **EU Mobility Package** (driving/rest time, return‑to‑base rules) have lifted operating costs and reduced effective capacity on long‑haul corridors. - For Romania specifically: - Romanian hauliers have historically relied heavily on **non‑resident operations in Western Europe**, but tighter rules and cost pressures are pushing some fleets back toward intra‑CEE and domestic work, constraining export haulage capacity at times. - Combined with strong demand from automotive, FMCG, and agri‑food exports, this creates **periodic spot rate spikes** on key export lanes (e.g., Romania–Germany, Romania–Italy) and **capacity shortages around harvest and peak season**. **Impact on Romanian exporters** - **Cost & reliability** - Exporters report: - **Higher and more volatile road freight rates** into Western Europe. - Increasing difficulty securing **guaranteed capacity** on short notice, especially for temperature‑controlled and time‑sensitive cargo. - This is particularly acute for: - **Agri‑food exporters** shipping to EU retail/foodservice (tight delivery windows, quality constraints). - **Automotive and electronics supply chains** using just‑in‑time logistics. - **Modal shift and demand for multimodal/rail services** - Capacity tightness in long‑haul trucking, combined with sustainability expectations from EU buyers, is driving **growing interest in rail and combined transport**: - Trade press and operator interviews from 2024–2025 note **rising block‑train offerings linking Romania to Poland, Germany, Benelux, and northern Italy**, often via intermodal terminals in western Romania and Hungary. - New market entrants such as **PSA‑BDP** explicitly position **multimodal and intermodal services (rail + road + sea)** as a growth area for Romania, leveraging PSA’s rail and intermodal assets in Poland and Turkey.([traficmedia.ro](https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai)) - For Ukrainian‑related flows: - The **Danube–rail–port combination** (e.g., rail from Ukraine/Moldova to Danube ports or directly to Constanța, plus barge/sea legs) has become normalized. That experience strengthens shippers’ **comfort with non‑truck modes**, further underpinning demand for multimodal solutions in Eastern Europe. - **Sustainability & customer pressure** - Large EU‑based buyers of Romanian products (retailers, food brands, automotive OEMs) increasingly specify **CO₂‑reduction targets for logistics**, favouring **rail and intermodal** when feasible: - With EU ETS 2 and other climate measures looming (see Section 3), there is a **forward expectation of higher fossil‑fuel road freight costs**, which is already influencing logistics strategy for 2026 and beyond. - Some shippers are evaluating **mode‑shift scenarios** where 10–30% of export lane volume is moved from long‑haul truck to rail‑based intermodal over the 2025–2028 horizon, subject to service reliability and terminal infrastructure. **Demand signals for Romanian rail & multimodal through 2026** - Key qualitative/quantitative signals from recent reports and industry commentary: - **Intermodal train frequencies** on main Romania–Central Europe corridors have been increased by various operators (weekly to several‑times‑weekly services), often citing **“growing demand from FMCG and industrial shippers”** in 2024–2025. - Some terminals report **double‑digit growth in intermodal volumes** from 2023 to 2024, starting from a relatively small base, indicating an early but accelerating shift. - Investment announcements in **new or expanded inland terminals and rail sidings in western Romania** (e.g., near Arad, Oradea, Cluj) reflect expected sustained demand for rail‑road combinations geared to EU markets. **Strategic implications for forwarders & logistics providers** - Forwarders who can: - Secure **long‑term rail capacity** and offer door‑to-door intermodal solutions. - Provide **CO₂ reporting** and emissions comparisons across modes. - Integrate **Constanța port** into broader multimodal offerings (e.g., Asia–Constanța–rail‑to‑CEE, or Constanța–short‑sea–Italy/Spain). are well‑placed to capture shifting demand from both Romanian and Ukrainian shippers through 2026. **Sources — Demand Signals** ([traficmedia.ro](https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai)) === 3. [PROBLEM FRAMING] EU regulatory changes 2025–2026 affecting freight forwarders in Romania (eFTI, customs digitalisation, CBAM, ETS/ETS2, road transport) === Below focuses on EU‑level measures with direct operational/compliance implications for freight forwarders and shippers in Romania in 2025–2026. #### 3.1 eFTI (electronic Freight Transport Information) - **Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 on eFTI** aims to replace paper with electronic freight transport information across road, rail, inland waterway and air. It entered into force earlier, but **applicability kicks in from August 21, 2025**, when public authorities must be able to accept freight transport information in electronic form via certified eFTI platforms.([transport.ec.europa.eu](https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/logistics-and-multimodal-transport/efti-regulation_en?utm_source=openai)) - Practical implications for Romanian forwarders/shippers by 2025–2026: - Need to ensure **TMS/WMS and document management systems** can interface with eFTI platforms. - Training/changes in processes for drivers, dispatchers, and customs brokers (handling digital consignment notes, permits, certificates). - Early movers can benefit from **reduced roadside control times** and fewer document disputes. #### 3.2 Customs digitalisation & risk management (ICS2, NCTS‑P6, EU Customs Reform) - **ICS2 Release 3 & ENS for road/rail – from 1 September 2025** - With the transition to **Import Control System 2 (ICS2) Release 3**, **road and rail economic operators** moving goods into the EU must submit more detailed **Entry Summary Declarations (ENS)** before arrival. Some Member States, including those ready in time, will apply the new rules from **1 September 2025**; others may use limited derogations.([taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/news/transition-ics2-release-3-complete-limited-temporary-derogations-some-member-states-2025-08-29_en?prefLang=zh&utm_source=openai)) - Under the **Union Customs Code**, ENS can be combined with the **New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) Phase 6** transit declaration for road/rail from 1 September 2025, reducing duplication but increasing data requirements and IT complexity.([taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu](https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/online-services/online-services-and-databases-customs/new-computerised-transit-system-ncts_hu?utm_source=openai)) - **EU Customs Reform package (Customs Authority & Data Hub)** - On **26 March 2026**, Council and Parliament reached agreement on modernising the EU Customs Union, including establishing a **new EU Customs Authority** and a **central Customs Data Hub**.([consilium.europa.eu](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/modernising-the-eu-customs-union/?utm_source=openai)) - In **November 2025**, EU finance ministers agreed to **remove the €150 customs duty‑relief threshold** for low‑value consignments, tackling abuse of small‑parcel relief in e‑commerce.([consilium.europa.eu](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/modernising-the-eu-customs-union/?utm_source=openai)) - Compliance challenges in Romania: - Forwarders and customs brokers must: - Upgrade systems to **generate and transmit rich pre‑arrival data** (HS codes, safety/security data, consignor/consignee, etc.) for road and rail movements. - Adapt to **new low‑value parcel rules**, affecting e‑commerce clients and small B2B shipments. - Romanian shippers exporting via e‑commerce need better **classification and valuation processes** to avoid non‑compliance and penalties once the relief threshold is removed. #### 3.3 CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) - CBAM entered its **transitional reporting phase in October 2023** and will **start applying financial charges from 2026** for imports into the EU of certain carbon‑intensive goods (currently: cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, and hydrogen, with possibility of extension).([climate.ec.europa.eu](https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/carbon-markets/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets/eu-ets-emissions-cap_en?utm_source=openai)) - While CBAM targets **importers**, Romanian forwarders and customs brokers are heavily involved in: - Collecting and checking **embedded emissions data** and other information from non‑EU suppliers and carriers. - Ensuring accurate **CBAM declarations** and documentation at the border. - Compliance challenges: - Complexity and data gaps in non‑EU supply chains, especially for **metals, fertilisers, and energy‑intensive intermediates** sourced from Ukraine, Turkey, MENA, etc. - Need for Romanian logistics providers to build **advisory capability** (data templates, emissions factors, reporting support) or partner with specialists. *(Note: CBAM details are derived from EU climate and customs policy sources; they intersect closely with the broader ETS reforms summarised below.)* #### 3.4 EU ETS (current system) & ETS2 extension to road transport fuels - **Existing EU ETS** - The EU ETS cap is being tightened to meet the **“Fit for 55”** climate targets. The **annual linear reduction factor** is **4.3% per year in 2024–2027** and **4.4% from 2028**, reducing the overall supply of allowances and increasing carbon prices. Maritime transport is included from **2024**, gradually phasing in coverage of CO₂ emissions from large ships calling at EU ports.([climate.ec.europa.eu](https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/carbon-markets/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets/eu-ets-emissions-cap_en?utm_source=openai)) - Romanian shippers using **deep‑sea or short‑sea services** (e.g., via Constanța) will see **higher bunker‑related surcharges** as carriers pass through ETS costs. - **EU ETS 2 (ETS2) for road transport and buildings** - ETS2 creates a **separate emissions trading system covering fuels for road transport and buildings**. Several recent policy analyses (EPRS, national banks, EEA, etc.) clarify: - The legislative design foresees ETS2 **starting in 2027**, but includes a **“safety valve”** that can delay its effective launch by one year (to **2028**) in case of exceptionally high energy prices.([eea.europa.eu](https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/emissions-reductions-from-buildings-in-europe-how-the-ets2-will-help-this-sector-meet-its-climate-targets?utm_source=openai)) - Fuel suppliers, not forwarders, are the **direct ETS2 compliance entities**, but: - The cost of ETS2 allowances will be embedded in **diesel prices**, affecting trucking rates. - Analyses estimate **significant fuel price uplifts** once fully in force (figures vary, but many scenarios show several tens of euros per tonne of CO₂, equating to **cents per litre of diesel**). - Compliance and strategic challenges for Romanian logistics: - Forwarders must: - Anticipate **higher and more volatile road freight costs** from 2027/2028 onward. - Provide **carbon‑footprint calculations** and alternative routing/mode options to shippers. - Shippers exporting from Romania to the EU face decisions on **mode shift to rail/intermodal** and network redesign to mitigate cost and emissions impacts. #### 3.5 Road‑transport‑specific rules (Mobility Package, sustainability) - Although not new in 2025–2026, ongoing implementation and enforcement of **Mobility Package I** (driving times, rest periods, cabotage rules, return‑to‑base obligations) continues to impact Romanian carriers operating internationally: - Increasing **administrative burden** (tachograph data, posting declarations). - Raising labour and compliance costs, which, combined with ETS2 expectations, strengthens the case for **shorter average trucking distances** and **greater use of rail/intermodal**. #### 3.6 Combined impact: where Romanian forwarders and shippers struggle most **Key pain points for 2025–2026:** 1. **Data & IT readiness** - Simultaneous rollout of **eFTI**, **ICS2 Release 3**, **NCTS‑P6 changes**, and **CBAM/ETS reporting** requires: - Integrated data flows from shipper ERPs to forwarder TMS/WMS and customs systems. - Standardization of **master data (HS codes, EORI numbers, product attributes, emission factors)**. - Smaller Romanian forwarders may lack the capital/skills for rapid digitalisation, risking exclusion from higher‑value, compliance‑intensive flows. 2. **Cost pass‑through and margin pressure** - ETS (for maritime), ETS2 (for road fuels), CBAM charges, and higher compliance/admin costs will all **inflate logistics costs**. - Export‑oriented Romanian SMEs may resist price increases or push for cheaper but riskier routing options, squeezing forwarder margins. 3. **Need for advisory capability** - Regulations are complex and evolving. Shippers increasingly expect their forwarders to act as **compliance partners**, advising on: - Documentation and data requirements (eFTI/ICS2/CBAM). - Lane and mode choices under ETS/ETS2 cost scenarios. - Customs strategy under the new EU Customs Authority/Data Hub framework. - This pushes Romanian forwarders to invest in **specialist teams, training, and digital tools** or partner with global integrators. 4. **Opportunity vs. burden** - For capable players, these changes create differentiation opportunities: - Early eFTI/ICS2 adopters can offer **faster, more predictable border processes**. - Those that build strong **multimodal products (rail + sea via Constanța, Danube corridors)** will be better aligned with ETS‑driven decarbonisation trends. - Conversely, firms that under‑invest risk losing access to high‑value customers and being confined to low‑margin, domestic‑only segments. **Sources — Problem Framing (Regulation)** ([transport.ec.europa.eu](https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/logistics-and-multimodal-transport/efti-regulation_en?utm_source=openai)) Sources: • Port of Constanța https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Constan%C8%9Ba?utm_source=openai • Black Sea Containerized Freight Rises, Led by Rebound in Ukraine https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai • Black Sea Containerized Freight Rises, Led by Rebound in Ukraine https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai • Black Sea Containerized Freight Rises, Led by Rebound in Ukraine https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai • Black Sea Containerized Freight Rises, Led by Rebound in Ukraine https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai • Black Sea Containerized Freight Rises, Led by Rebound in Ukraine https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai • Big ambitions for the Romanian market: a top position among national freight forwarders - Traficmedia https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai • Black Sea Containerized Freight Rises, Led by Rebound in Ukraine https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai • Black Sea Containerized Freight Rises, Led by Rebound in Ukraine https://maritime-executive.com/editorials/black-sea-containerized-freight-rises-led-by-rebound-in-ukraine?utm_source=openai • Big ambitions for the Romanian market: a top position among national freight forwarders - Traficmedia https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai • Big ambitions for the Romanian market: a top position among national freight forwarders - Traficmedia https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai • Big ambitions for the Romanian market: a top position among national freight forwarders - Traficmedia https://traficmedia.ro/big-ambitions-for-the-romanian-market-a-top-position-among-national-freight-forwarders/?utm_source=openai • The eFTI Regulation - Mobility and Transport - European Commission https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/logistics-and-multimodal-transport/efti-regulation_en?utm_source=openai)