The Romanian Sea Ports Authority (RSPA), which manages the Black Sea port of Constanta, has acquired the Giurgiuleşti International Free Port in Moldova, the Romanian government announced.
„The Romanian government welcomes the successful completion of the acquisition by the national company RSPPA in Constanta of ICS Danube Logistics, operator of the Giurgiuleşti International Port, by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development“, the statement said.
„Thanks to this capital investment, the port of Constanta will strengthen its strategic role in the Black Sea region, aiming to become a regional hub that will ensure connectivity between the European Union and neighboring regions, including in the context of establishing new transport routes in the current regional context“, noted the Romanian government.
The Romanian company plans to invest in the long-term development of the Giurgiuleşti International Port “with the aim of increasing its capacity, modernizing its infrastructure and thus strengthening its position in the Black Sea region and the Danube basin“.
“As a result of this investment, its strategic role will increase and the port is well-positioned to serve the future reconstruction of Ukraine“, the statement stressed. “Last but not least, this deal will contribute to strengthening economic and trade ties between Romania and the Republic of Moldova“, the Romanian government noted.
About the port
The Port of Giurgiuleşti is located 133 km from the Black Sea at the confluence of the Prut and Danube rivers. It was built in 2006 after Moldova secured the transfer of 430 meters of coastline from Ukraine in exchange for a section of road near the border village of Palanka. The port includes an oil terminal with a 63,000-ton storage facility, two grain terminals, a terminal for other cargoes, and a business park. The construction of the port gave Moldova access to the Black Sea.
In 2021, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) acquired 100% of the capital of Danube Logistics, which operated the port. In 2025, the EBRD press service announced the launch of a tender for the sale of the port operator, which, as the organization specified, is being carried out “in full cooperation with the [Moldovan] government“. Interest in the port of Giurgiuleşti, as well as its cargo turnover, has increased significantly due to the situation in Ukraine. The deal to change the ownership of the port was criticized by the Moldovan opposition, which believes that the port should belong to the Moldovan state.