Pork – Romania’s Most Consumed Meat, but Still Import-Dependent

Pork remains the most consumed type of meat in Romania, accounting for around 45% of total consumption. In 2024, average annual consumption reached 37 kg per capita, while domestic production stood at nearly 420,000 tons.

Despite this, Romania imported more than 350,000 tons of pork, worth over €900 million, highlighting a structural dependence on external markets. The main sources of imports are Poland, Spain, and Germany — countries with integrated farms and lower production costs. This situation places significant pressure on local farmers, who face challenges such as African swine fever, high feed costs, and a lack of integration across the supply chain.

Reducing Import Dependence

Solutions to strengthen domestic production include modernizing farms with EU funds, fostering farmer cooperatives, developing premium product lines (e.g., Mangalitsa, organic pork), and pursuing vertical integration with local slaughterhouses and processors.

In the medium term, adapting to EU sustainability and animal welfare standards could help Romanian farmers consolidate their position on the domestic market and reduce reliance on imports.

(Photo: Freepik)