Romania and Poland have comparable agricultural areas and a similar Eastern European profile within the European Union. However, the major difference appears in the level of value added generated along the agri-food chain. According to Eurostat data for 2024–2025, Poland exports proportionally more processed products, while Romania remains strongly oriented toward raw materials, especially cereals.

The structure of farms plays an essential role. Poland has a dense network of local processors integrated with farms, allowing value to be captured within the national economy. In Romania, fragmentation and the export of raw commodities limit the accumulation of domestic value.

From an economic perspective, the difference is not only about production, but about integration. European Commission data show that countries processing a larger share of their production domestically experience lower volatility in agricultural incomes.

For 2026, the comparison with Poland becomes strategically relevant. Competitiveness is not determined by land area or gross output, but by the ability to transform raw materials into products with added value.

(Photo: Freepik)