Rail wagons in Romania turn into “grain elevators on wheels” amid storage capacity shortage

Romania is facing growing grain storage problems due to insufficient storage capacity and congested railway infrastructure. According to Romanian grain market analyst Cesar Gheorghe, the country’s total licensed grain storage capacity stands at around 16.5 mln tons, equivalent to only half of this year’s harvest. As a result, significant volumes of grain remain in rail wagons awaiting unloading.

The situation is further complicated by extensive railway maintenance works, particularly near Fetești and at Palas station close to the Port of Constanta. Limited capacity along these sections creates bottlenecks and delays grain deliveries to port terminals. As a result, rail wagons are effectively being used as temporary grain storage facilities.

According to Gheorghe, grain delivery delays can reach 40–50 days. During this period, grain remains in wagons that cannot be used for new shipments. This reduces rail logistics efficiency and places additional pressure on the country’s transport system.

Another major problem is the shortage of locomotives. Despite having a sufficient number of freight wagons, railway operators lack enough locomotives to keep trains moving. When a train is delayed, its locomotive may be reassigned to another route, leaving the original train waiting for an available locomotive even after receiving permission to proceed.

The combination of insufficient grain storage capacity, railway infrastructure repairs, and locomotive shortages is complicating grain transportation to the Port of Constanta. Prolonged wagon delays limit transport capacity and may increase logistics costs. This also creates additional risks for Ukrainian grain transit through Romania, which remains an important alternative route for agricultural exports.

Tags: Romania, grain storage, rail transportation