Cabbages market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The Romanian cabbage market contracted significantly from 2018 to 2023, with total market volume falling from 722 thousand tons to 380 thousand tons. This decline was driven by a steep reduction in domestic production, which dropped from 693 thousand tons to 358 thousand tons over the same period.

A severe drought in 2022 drastically reduced cabbage yields per hectare, leading to a sharp drop in production and a doubling of market prices. This climatic shock accelerated the market's downturn and increased reliance on imports to cover the domestic supply shortfall.

Although farmers expanded cultivated areas in 2023 and invested in irrigation technologies to combat drought, adverse weather conditions continued to constrain output. By 2024, cabbage imports surged to a record 36 thousand tons, a 73% increase from 2023, highlighting the growing dependence on foreign supply to meet local demand.

Production cabbages in Romania

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Romania ranked 15th globally in cabbage production.

Top producers of cabbages, 2017-2020

World map of production of cabbages, 2017-2020

Cabbage production in Romania declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, Romania produced 542 thousand tonnes of cabbages, marking a significant year-over-year decrease of 12.2%. From 2017 to 2020, production fell by 47.3%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 19.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Romania in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports cabbages from Romania

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. The minimum export volume was recorded in 2018 at 264 tonnes, while the maximum reached 1 303 tonnes in 2019, representing a 4.9-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Romania's cabbage exports amounted to 951 tonnes, a decrease of 27.0% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 61.4%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 393.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main buyers of cabbages from Romania were Poland (21.0% of exports in kind), Spain (16.0%), and Moldova (13.5%), together accounting for 50.4% of total exports in kind.

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, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend over the timeframe. The minimum export value was recorded in 2018 at 93 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2019 at 497 thousand US dollars, showing a peak-to-trough amplitude of 5.4 times. In 2020, Romania exported 482 thousand US dollars worth of cabbages, indicating a slight drop of 3.0% from the previous year. The largest decline was in 2018 at 42.4%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 435.1%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Spain (27.4% of exports in value terms), Poland (12.7%), and Moldova (12.5%) accounted for the largest share of exports in value terms, together comprising 52.6% of total flows.

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

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

Imports cabbages to Romania

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Romania's cabbage import volume stood at 26 792 tonnes, which was 0.6% higher than the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 10.3%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 3.3%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 29 459 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 9.6%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 21.3%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, North Macedonia (39.7% of imports in kind), Poland (18.8%), and Bulgaria (6.0%) accounted for the largest share of imports in kind, together comprising 64.6% of total 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, K $ US

After a two-year advance, cross-border shipments of cabbages to Romania declined. In 2020, Romania imported cabbages worth 16 658 thousand US dollars, reflecting a sharp decrease of 37.2% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 35.6%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 10.7%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 16 658 thousand US dollars. The largest increase occurred in 2018 at 53.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, North Macedonia (29.9% of imports in value terms), Poland (17.8%), and Spain (9.4%) together accounted for 57.1% of total imports in value terms, remaining the main sources for cabbages to Romania.

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

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