Romania's Agricultural Performance in 2024: Declining Yields Across All Crops

In 2024, compared to the previous year, the cultivated area decreased for grains, vegetables, and potatoes but increased for oilseeds and pulses. However, crop production declined across all categories, including grains, oilseeds, vegetables, potatoes, and pulses.

At the European Union level, Romania ranked first in cultivated area for sunflower and maize but third in total production for both crops.

2024 vs. 2023: Declining Areas and Yields

In 2024, both cultivated areas and yields (average production per hectare) decreased for key crops.

Grains

• The cultivated area for grains decreased by 2.0%, while total grain production fell by 14.0%, mainly due to lower yields.
• Wheat accounted for 44.7% of the total cultivated grain area, while maize covered 41.8%.
• The sharpest decline was in maize production, which dropped by 31.5%, significantly impacting total grain output since maize represents 33.5% of Romania’s grain production.

Pulses

• Production decreased by 23.2% compared to the previous year, primarily due to lower yields.

Oilseeds

• Production declined by 28.2%, despite a 3.4% increase in cultivated area.
• Specific oilseed declines:
• Rapeseed: -35.0%
• Sunflower: -26.0%
• Soybeans: -2.6%

Potatoes

• Cultivated area fell by 2.5%, while production dropped by 18.2%.

Vegetables

• Production decreased by 10.8% due to both lower yields and reduced cultivated areas.

Vineyards

• Grape production decreased by 11.9%, mainly due to:
• A 10.3% drop in yield per hectare
• A 1.8% decrease in vineyard area

Orchards

• Fruit production fell by 7.5%, caused by both reduced cultivated areas and lower yields.

Romania vs. Other EU Member States (2024 Rankings)

Maize

• 1st place in cultivated area
• 3rd place in total production, after France and Poland

Sunflower

• 1st place in cultivated area
• 3rd place in total production, after Hungary and France

Wheat

• 4th place in both cultivated area and total production, after France, Germany, and Poland

Potatoes

• 6th place in cultivated area, after Germany, Poland, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium
• 10th place in total production, after Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, and Sweden