Knauf Insulation Romania reports growth in 2025 amid challenging economic conditions and supports faster building renovation in Romania

Knauf Insulation Romania, part of the Knauf Group, closed 2025 with turnover of more than €50 million, despite a difficult economic environment marked by high energy prices and rising CO2 compliance costs across the industry.

The Târnăveni plant, opened in 2025, brought an important operational advantage and was allocated part of regional demand. Local production improved product availability and shortened lead times. During 2025, glass mineral wool output supported domestic deliveries in Romania as well as exports to Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Serbia and Montenegro.

Demand increased for thermal insulation systems used in renovation and public projects, including pitched roofs and attics, terrace roofs, ventilated façades and technical applications. At the same time, the market showed a clearer shift towards solutions delivering higher fire performance, acoustic comfort and sustainability.

In this context, 2026 and the years ahead will be important for turning European objectives into practical national measures. Under the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Member States are required to submit National Building Renovation Plans by the end of 2026, setting out clear targets, implementation milestones and funding pathways. From the company’s perspective, Romania has an opportunity to build a predictable and effective framework that gives long-term visibility to homeowners, housing associations, public authorities and the construction sector.

Knauf Insulation Romania considers that such a plan should prioritize multiannual renovation programs for single-family homes and multi-family residential buildings, accessible financing instruments and predictable grants for the residential segment, which represents the largest share of Romania’s building stock, as well as simple access rules and tailored mechanisms for vulnerable households and homeowners’ associations. It is also important that minimum energy performance standards for the worst-performing buildings are introduced gradually and realistically, supported by technical assistance and on-site quality control.

The company also underlines the importance of aligning energy renovation with fire safety requirements, as the two objectives should be addressed together. Well-designed renovation projects using non-combustible materials or appropriately classified systems can help deliver buildings that are safer, more comfortable and more energy efficient, with lower bills and reduced emissions.

Sustainability remains a strategic pillar for Knauf Insulation Romania. The company offers products made with up to 80% recycled content and continues to invest in reducing its carbon footprint, improving the energy efficiency of its production processes and developing transparent Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). With a large share of Romania’s buildings still performing below current standards, upgrading the building envelope remains one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce energy use and improve indoor comfort.

“As a family-owned company, we invest for the long term. The market remains challenging, with high energy prices, increased CO2-related costs and cautious activity in new-build construction. At the same time, Romania has a real opportunity to accelerate renovation of its building stock through coherent EPBD implementation, predictable programmes for single-family and multi-family buildings, and continued attention to the enforcement of fire safety legislation. In Târnăveni, we are focused on efficiency, reliable local supply and skilled jobs, while contributing to the national economy through taxes, training and export-led activity,” said Adrian Garofeanu, General Manager of Knauf Insulation Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria.

As production capacity expanded, Knauf Insulation Romania increased its team to nearly 140 employees by the end of 2025, strengthening production, technical and support functions. Looking ahead, the company’s priorities include optimising the new production capacity, expanding its portfolio of high fire-performance and acoustic solutions, developing products with a lower carbon footprint, strengthening technical services for designers and contractors, and maintaining strict cost discipline.

Knauf Insulation Romania reaffirms its readiness to work with national and local authorities, industry bodies and financial institutions to support the scale of building renovation Romania needs, in a way that is safe, efficient and affordable.

About Knauf Insulation

With more than 40 years of experience in the insulation industry, Knauf Insulation currently employs nearly 6,000 people across 40 countries and operates 28 production facilities in 15 countries. Knauf Insulation is part of the Knauf Group, which employs around 42,500 people in 90 countries, operates 320 factories worldwide and recorded sales of around €15.6 billion in 2023. Founded in 1932, the Knauf Group remains an independent family-owned company built on the values of Partnership, Commitment, Entrepreneurship and Menschlichkeit (Humanity).

Knauf Insulation solutions with ECOSE Technology binder hold the Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold certification for indoor air quality, deliver strong thermal, acoustic and fire safety performance and are made from up to 80% recycled glass.

About Knauf Insulation Romania

Present in Romania since 2008, Knauf Insulation is one of the key players in the thermal insulation market, with a complete portfolio including glass mineral wool, rock mineral wool and wood wool boards (Heraklith). On the Romanian market, the company is one of the leading suppliers of mineral wool, offering solutions suitable for all types of construction, including attic insulation, façade insulation, partition walls, flat roofs and many other applications.