Eurostat: Romanian Farmers Report Average Pesticide Use Compared to EU Peers

In 2023, approximately 292,000 tonnes of pesticides were sold across the European Union — the lowest volume recorded since data collection began in 2011, according to a recent Eurostat report. This marks a 9% decrease compared to 2022 and an 18% drop from 2021.

The main categories of pesticides sold in the EU in 2023 were:

• Fungicides and bactericides – 39%
• Herbicides, haulm destructors, and moss killers – 36%
• Insecticides and acaricides – 17%

These figures are part of Eurostat’s latest statistics on pesticide sales, published in the broader Statistics Explained article focused on the agri-environmental indicator: pesticide consumption.

Four Largest EU Economies Dominate Pesticide Sales

Four countries accounted for the majority of pesticide sales in the EU:

• France – 23%
• Spain – 18%
• Germany – 14%
• Italy – 14%

These countries are also the EU’s top agricultural producers, making their high pesticide sales somewhat proportional to their farming activity.

Diverging Trends Across the EU (2011–2023)

Of the 21 EU countries with comparable data for the 2011–2023 period:

• 16 countries recorded declines in pesticide sales
• Largest decreases:
• Portugal and Italy: -44%
• Ireland and Slovenia: -38%
• 5 countries reported increases
• Largest increases:
• Latvia: +55%
• Austria: +52%
• Lithuania: +11%

Romania: Among the Higher Users of Agricultural Chemicals

Despite being absent from the list of top EU sellers, Romania ranks among the higher users of chemical substances in agriculture, as suggested by comparative data visualizations. While Romanian farmers maintain average pesticide use levels relative to the EU as a whole, the country still exhibits notable dependence on chemical crop protection agents in certain regions and sectors.