Business 2 min read By Arthur Ellington
Decathlon Projects 20% Sales Growth for Affordable Sports Range in 2026
Sports retailer Decathlon anticipates that sales in its Primul Preț Tehnic range will grow by about 20% in 2026, a category representing approximately 10% of its business in Romania.
Decathlon estimates that sales of its affordable sports product range will grow by about 20% in 2026, a pace above the company's average. The Primul Preț Tehnic category currently accounts for approximately 10% of the retailer's sales in Romania, according to information published by Economedia.
Romanians bought over 10 million products from this range in the 2024–2026 period, a figure that shows steady interest in sports equipment at lower prices. The offer includes more than 550 items from over 100 brands, covering several disciplines and consumer needs, from basic equipment to products for more specialized activities.
The company's goal is commercial, but the estimated growth comes in a macroeconomic context in which state revenues have risen strongly. According to data analyzed by Profit.ro, Romania recorded in 2025 the largest percentage increase in tax and social contribution revenues in the European Union, at 10.5%, almost double the European average of 5.5%. However, Romanian state tax revenues represent 29.3% of GDP, compared with the EU average of 40.7%, placing the country second to last in the European ranking. For consumers and retailers in Romania, the gap between the dynamics of revenue collection and its relative level thus remains an important element of context.
In parallel, data from Monitorul Social, a project of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation based on official data, shows that Romania gained almost 280,000 additional inhabitants due to immigration in the 2022–2025 period. According to the same source, the number of people settling in the country exceeds the number leaving for the fourth consecutive year. Population trends and domestic demand are, in this sense, a relevant factor for retailers monitoring the affordable price segments.
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