“The main reason behind the increase in imports and implicitly behind the advance among top importers is linked to the increase in sales volumes in the electro-IT&C sector, largely due to the pandemic which accelerated the digitalization of the economy. We are the main link of distribution for online and offline retailers, solutions integrators and companies implementing the technology infrastructure in Romania”, said Andrei Militaru, CEO of NOD.
According to Militaru, the large share held by imports in the company’s total turnover is due exclusively to the fact that there are no suppliers for information technology in Romania and their number is limited in the electro-IT&C sector.
Network One Distribution’s total imports reached RON1.47 billion in 2020, of which RON1.15 billion represent acquisitions in Europe (including UK and Turkey), and the remainder represents acquisitions outside Europe. “The European Union is the main partner, accounting for 78% of imports, and the remaining 22% is largely covered by China, Singapore and Hong Kong”.
In 2020, NOD was the largest Romanian-held importer, per statistics data, followed by Dedeman (do-it-yourself store chain) and Altex (electro-IT&C sector). In a general ranking of importers, NOD placed 27th in 2020, climbing from the 44th in 2019.