Builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the market for builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood in Romania contracted sharply. Production value fell from $371.2 million to $145.7 million, while the market size dropped from $275.5 million to $54.5 million. Imports remained relatively stable around $120 million, but exports increased, contributing to the net decline in domestic availability.

From 2021 onward, the market faced significant external pressures. The war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia and Belarus disrupted timber supply chains, while high inflation and rising mortgage rates slowed construction activity, reducing demand for wood products. Imports peaked at $161.1 million in 2021 before falling to $133.7 million in 2023, reflecting these constraints. Exports also declined after 2021, from $312.0 million to $165.6 million in 2024, as administrative barriers and contract cancellations in the timber sector hampered production and trade.

Key market dynamics in 2022-2023 included a severe reduction in timber supply from the state-owned forest manager RNP – Romsilva, which curtailed volumes and drove auction prices up by 150%. This, coupled with the implementation of EU Regulation 995/2010 on timber legality, increased costs and complexity for industry players. The cancellation of wood supply contracts for approximately 1.8 million cubic meters in 2023 further depressed sectoral activity, leading to reported production drops in the wood industry.

Production builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Romania's production of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood has been declining for three consecutive years. In 2020, output was valued at 145.7 million US dollars, marking a significant 48.9% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 63.2%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 28.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Romania in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood from Romania

Exports in kind, K t

Romania's export volume of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, exports reached 161.7 thousand tonnes, up 14.0% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 13.9%, with an annualized rate of 4.4%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 138.5 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 2.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Japan, Sweden, and Germany consistently led as the top destinations for Romania's exports of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood in volume terms. Japan accounted for 58.2% of exports, Sweden for 6.6%, and Germany for 4.7%, together making up 69.6% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Romania in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Romania's exports of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood in value terms reached 215.8 million US dollars, showing a modest increase of 7.4% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports rose by 6.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 200.9 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 5.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Romania in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Japan, Sweden, and Italy were the largest buyers of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood from Romania in value terms. Japan represented 38.4% of exports, Sweden 16.1%, and Italy 7.2%, collectively accounting for 61.7% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Romania in value, 2017-2020

Imports builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood to Romania

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, Romania's import volume of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood stood at 72.2 thousand tonnes, a slight increase of 1.8% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 8.6%, with an annualized rate of 2.8%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 0.8%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 7.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Over the 2017-2020 period, China, Poland, and Ukraine were the main suppliers of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood to Romania in volume terms. China contributed 34.3% of imports, Poland 13.3%, and Ukraine 10.2%, together representing 57.8% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Romania in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Romania's imports of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood in value terms have increased for three consecutive years. In 2020, imports amounted to 124.5 million US dollars, up 2.0% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports rose by 23.6%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 7.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Romania in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, China, Poland, and Germany formed the core group of markets for Romania's imports of builders' joinery and carpentry of wood in value terms. China accounted for 28.6% of imports, Poland for 19.1%, and Germany for 9.4%, together making up 57.2% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Romania in value, 2017-2020