Cereal groats and meal market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The Romanian cereal groats and meal market was shaped by regulatory frameworks and external shocks in the late 2010s. The updating of Emergency Ordinance No. 12/2006 for the cereal supply chain and sustained income support for grain farmers under the BISS scheme provided a baseline structure. However, extreme drought reported in 2019 and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which caused port blockages in Constanta and restricted farmer access to export markets, contributed to a contraction in market volume to 22,339 tonnes that year.

Market volume rebounded to 29,886 tonnes in 2021, a change driven primarily by increased imports of cereals from Ukraine following liberalized purchases, which expanded domestic supply. This period also saw the implementation of state aid to reduce excise duty on agricultural diesel. In 2022, while physical volume eased slightly, the market's value surged to 17.5 million USD, a direct result of high global wheat prices reported on exchanges in Chicago and Paris, which elevated costs despite ongoing measures to license Ukrainian agricultural products.

The market's later phase was marked by significant industrial investment and production challenges. In 2023, the launch of the new Lantmännen Unibake factory in Pantelimon represented a major expansion in bakery production capacity with implications for cereal consumption. By 2024, a severe drought led to the lowest total cereal harvest in a decade, which curtailed domestic supply and contributed to a drop in the groats and meal market volume to 21,581 tonnes. New quality requirements for bakery and pasta products introduced that year also signaled evolving standards for processed cereals.

Production cereal groats and meal in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, Romania's output of cereal groats and meal was valued at 3 662 thousand US dollars, showing a strong 15.1% increase compared to 2019.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

In 2020, Romania produced 5 228 tonnes of cereal groats and meal, marking a slight 0.9% advance from the previous year.

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

Exports cereal groats and meal from Romania

Exports in kind, t

Romania's exports of cereal groats and meal increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 10 068 tonnes, up 39.5% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 389.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 69.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romania's cereal groats and meal exports reached a broad range of buyers. Hungary accounted for 20.4% of exports in kind, Poland for 15.3%, and Cameroon for 12.0%, together contributing 47.7% of total exports in kind. Many other countries held smaller but notable shares.

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

Romania's cereal groats and meal export value increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 3 294 thousand US dollars, up 48.3% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 339.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 63.8%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romania traded cereal groats and meal with numerous countries. Even the largest destinations—Hungary, Cameroon, and Côte d'Ivoire—together represented only 40.9% of total exports in value terms.

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

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

Imports cereal groats and meal to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Romania's imports of cereal groats and meal declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import volume was recorded at 27 179 tonnes, marking a slight 2.0% decrease year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 24.2%, with an annualized rate of 7.5%. The highest volume was in 2018 at 29 467 tonnes, with the largest decline of 5.9% in 2019 and the largest increase of 34.7% in 2018.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Hungary played the leading role in Romania's imports in kind, accounting for 82.5% of total flows, while other markets made up the remainder.

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 increase, Romania's cereal groats and meal import value declined. In 2020, imports amounted to 8 755 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 9.5% decrease from the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 20.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 9 677 thousand US dollars, with the largest increase of 25.7% in 2018.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Hungary was the key supplier of cereal groats and meal to Romania, taking 76.6% of total imports in value terms, while a diversified group of other countries accounted for the rest.

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

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