Businesses regularly face congestion on the Polish route, which is why they increasingly consider other options for delivering goods to and from Europe. In this article, we explain how exports from Ukraine through Romania are organized, how this route differs from the Polish one, and what nuances are worth considering when planning a route.
The Situation at the Polish Border: Causes of Congestion and Restrictions
The Polish route remains one of the key overland routes for Ukrainian exports, but its throughput can change significantly depending on the situation at specific border crossings. Strikes, temporary traffic restrictions, seasonal increases in cargo flow, and tighter controls can increase waiting times for freight transport. For businesses, this means not only delivery delays but also additional costs for downtime, storage, and inventory planning.
Why Businesses Look for Alternative Export Routes
The Romanian route should not be seen merely as a “backup option” for when there is congestion in Poland. It is a separate country with its own transport corridor, infrastructure, and capabilities, including a maritime component via the port of Constanta, which the Polish route lacks. For businesses, a more effective solution is often diversification: routing part of the cargo flow through Poland while using the Romanian corridor for certain categories of goods, volumes, or modes of transport. This approach allows logistics to be structured around the features of each route, rather than simply substituting one route for another whenever the border becomes difficult.
The Romanian Route: General Characteristics of the Transport Corridor
The Romanian route has an important advantage, the ability to combine several modes of transport within a single logistics chain. Road and rail routes are used to deliver cargo to Romania and onward into the EU, while the port of Constanta provides access to maritime shipping. For certain cargoes, the Danube route may also be used. The feasibility of this route should therefore be assessed not only by distance but by the entire delivery scheme.
Road Border Crossings Between Romania and Ukraine
The main road routes include the Porubne-Siret and Diakove-Halmeu crossings, among others. At the same time, it would be incorrect to assume the Romanian route is guaranteed to be faster than the Polish one: the load on border crossings varies depending on the season, cargo type, and the current border situation. Before dispatch, it is important to assess the current situation and allow a time buffer.
Rail Connections Through Romania
The rail component of the Romanian route is particularly relevant for regular and large shipments, where road delivery may be economically or operationally less efficient. Planning must take into account the specifics of border infrastructure, the possibility of transshipment between different track gauges, and further delivery to a terminal or final recipient. For containerized cargo, rail can be part of a multimodal scheme with a subsequent road or sea leg.
The Port of Constanta and Danube Ports as the Maritime Component of the Route
Constanta forms a separate maritime component of the Romanian logistics corridor. Export and import operations can be organized through it, with subsequent use of road, rail, or Danube transport. For large shipments, this allows cargo flow to be distributed across different modes of transport instead of relying solely on road delivery across the land border.
Comparing Cost and Timelines: Romania vs. Poland
| Criterion | Romanian Route | Polish Route |
| Transport options | Road, rail, Danube, sea | Road, rail |
| Maritime component | Port of Constanta | No direct access to the sea |
| Route flexibility | High, due to multimodality | High for overland transport |
| Main risks | Load on the border, terminals, and port infrastructure | Queues, traffic restrictions, load on border crossings |
| Suitability | Large shipments, multimodal and maritime routes | Regular overland deliveries to the EU |
The choice between routes should not be based on “which border is faster” but on the full logistics scheme: origin and destination points, cargo type, shipment volume, timing requirements, transport cost, and the current border situation.
Customs Clearance Specifics When Switching to the Romanian Route
When goods move through Romania under the common transit procedure, the NCTS system and a transit declaration are used. A financial guarantee is applied to secure customs obligations, in line with the terms of the common transit procedure. The specific clearance procedure depends on the status of the goods, the route, and the chosen customs procedure, so it is worth checking documents before transport begins.
In addition, since May 2022, the European Commission’s EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes initiative has been in place, aimed at optimizing infrastructure and increasing the throughput of border crossings between the EU and Ukraine, including the Romanian route.
“Diversifying routes is not a temporary fix for periods of congestion, but an element of a long-term strategy for managing logistics risks,” comment Daleth Group specialists.
Risks and Limitations of the Romanian Route
The Romanian route also has its limitations. Multimodal delivery increases the number of operations that need to be synchronized: transshipment, vehicle dispatch, terminal operations, customs procedures, and the exchange of documents between chain participants. For Danube transport, navigation conditions are an additional factor. As a result, the economic advantage of a single transport leg does not always translate into a lower total delivery cost.
How to Choose the Optimal Route for a Specific Cargo
The optimal route is determined not by a single characteristic but by a combination of factors: cargo type and dimensions, number of loading points, final address, required customs procedures, timelines, and budget. In Daleth Group’s practice, there was a case involving the delivery of an oversized machine for a manufacturer of acoustic equipment, with several loading points in Germany, Romania, and Poland. For this shipment, the route and mode of transport were selected based on the cargo’s specifics and movement requirements, allowing the equipment to be delivered undamaged within the agreed timeframe.
Conclusion
The Romanian route should be seen not simply as an alternative to the Polish border, but as a separate logistics corridor with its own advantages and limitations. Access to road, rail, Danube, and maritime transport makes it possible to build different delivery schemes depending on cargo characteristics. For businesses, this creates an opportunity to diversify routes and reduce dependence on a single border crossing point.
You can learn more about deliveries from Romania to Ukraine on our website, and Daleth Group specialists can tell you about the company’s comprehensive international logistics services.
FAQ
Is it more expensive to transport cargo through Romania than through Poland?
Not necessarily. Cost depends on the origin and destination points, the mode of transport, cargo volume, the number of transshipments, and the current border situation. The Romanian route can be more cost-effective for multimodal and large shipments, but for some overland transport, the Polish route remains more economical.
What goods are most often transported via the Romanian route?
Most often these are grain and oilseed crops, containerized cargo, general and oversized goods, and products that require a maritime transport component.
What documents are needed to export via Romania?
The set of documents depends on the type of goods and the chosen customs procedure. Usually required are commercial documents, a transport document (CMR, bill of lading, etc.), a customs declaration, and, if necessary, a transit declaration. For certain categories of goods, phytosanitary, veterinary, permit, or certification documents may also be required.
Can the Romanian and Polish routes be combined for a single cargo flow?
Yes, many companies use both routes in parallel, distributing cargo depending on border congestion and delivery deadlines.