Romania is among the largest agricultural producers in the European Union, yet its position within the agri-food value chain remains unbalanced. With approximately 13.3 million hectares of utilized agricultural area, Romania ranks among the leading European countries in terms of available agricultural resources.

According to data published by Eurostat, Romania’s total cereal production frequently exceeds 25 million tonnes in favorable agricultural years. The country consistently ranks among the top European producers of maize and sunflower, and cereal exports represent an important component of agri-food trade.

However, the structure of exports indicates a strong dependence on raw materials. A large share of agricultural production is exported in the form of cereals or oilseeds, while processed food products are imported in significant volumes.

According to agri-food trade data, Romania exports over €10 billion worth of agricultural products annually, but imports processed foods in a comparable or even higher value. This commercial structure reflects a lack of integration between agriculture and the food industry.

In economic terms, this situation means that a significant share of the added value generated by agricultural production is captured in other European economies, where the raw materials are processed and later reintroduced into the Romanian market as finished food products.

(Photo: Freepik)