While Romania’s pig sector has faced severe crises, the poultry industry has moved in the exact opposite direction: constant production growth, a trade surplus, and visible investments nationwide. According to ANSVSA data, Romania currently has 831 poultry farms with a total capacity of 66.7 million birds, while 665 companies operate in the poultry sector, generating combined revenues of 6.8 billion lei in 2024 and employing more than 9,500 people.

Production has reached impressive levels: National Institute of Statistics (INS) data shows that in 2024, more than 341 million birds were slaughtered — 3% more than the previous year — and total carcass production reached nearly 574,000 tons. Poultry meat now accounts for 51% of total meat production in Romania, surpassing pork as a result of the impact of African swine fever. The upward trend continued in 2025: in July 2025, monthly poultry meat production increased by 32.4% compared to the same month of the previous year, reaching 63,873 tons.

On foreign markets, Romania’s poultry industry has transformed a traditional sector into an export engine. In 2025, poultry meat exports increased by 45%, reaching €422 million, while egg exports rose by 160%, reaching €140 million. Together, the two sectors exceed half a billion euros in annual exports — a remarkable performance for an industry that has grown by 150% since Romania joined the EU. Romania produces approximately 5.8 billion eggs annually, and domestic consumption is slightly above the European average, at 245–250 eggs per capita per year.

Geographic concentration is significant: Bihor County has the largest number of birds in the country — nearly 6 million head — and hosts the largest poultry farm, located in Tinca. The challenge for the coming years remains the transition toward systems with higher animal welfare standards, given that free-range and organic systems currently represent only 4% of production, both in Romania and across Europe.

(Photo: Freepik)