Coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The Romanian market for coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles saw initial stability in 2018-2019, but underlying regulatory pressures were already shaping supply. Strict enforcement of forestry regulations and administrative blockades limited private access to wood resources, constraining market offerings. By 2019, the state-owned forestry manager Romsilva maintained a supply volume of 11 million cubic meters, yet prices fell close to auction starting levels, indicating an oversupply relative to demand which kept total market volume flat. The market volume then contracted in 2020 to 160 thousand tons, a shift not directly explained by the contemporaneous increase in Romsilva's offered volume.

A sharp market expansion to 227 thousand tons occurred in 2021, a period marked by a doubling of firewood prices attributed to defective regulations that withheld millions of cubic meters from the market. This trend reversed dramatically in 2022 following the emergency ordinance that capped firewood prices at 400 lei per cubic meter. The price cap, combined with Romsilva's reduction of marketed wood to 9.4 million cubic meters and soaring energy costs exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, created a supply shortage and contributed to a market contraction to 158 thousand tons.

Market volume recovered to 182 thousand tons in 2023 as Romsilva doubled its output of sawn firewood to over 2 million cubic meters and imports rose to compensate for domestic shortfalls, despite record-high prices fueled by the ongoing energy crisis. By 2024, a continued increase in the share of sawn wood in Romsilva's offerings led to an oversupply and falling prices, yet the total market volume declined to 128 thousand tons, suggesting a shift in demand dynamics.

Production coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Romania's production of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles, measured in monetary terms, declined after two consecutive years of growth. In 2019, output reached its peak at 7 087 K $ US. However, by 2020, production had fallen to 6 014 K $ US, representing a 15.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the entire period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 26.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 8.2%. The most significant year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, when production surged by 27.2%.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Romania's production of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles, measured in physical volume, dropped following two years of expansion. In 2019, production peaked at 91 138 tonnes. By 2020, output had decreased sharply to 60 184 tonnes, marking a substantial 34.0% decline from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, overall production grew by 26.2%, averaging an 8.1% annual increase. The largest single-year growth was recorded in 2018, with a notable 46.1% rise.

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

Exports coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles from Romania

Exports in kind, K t

Export volumes of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles from Romania showed considerable volatility during this period. In 2018, exports reached their highest point at 0.9 K tonnes, but by 2020, they had fallen to their lowest level of 0.1 K tonnes, representing an 80.7% decrease from the previous year. The difference between the peak in 2018 and the trough in 2020 was 7.4 times. The most significant increase occurred in 2018, with exports jumping by 165.4%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Austria was the dominant destination for Romania's exports of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles in physical terms, accounting for 85.8% of total export volume. The remaining 14.2% was distributed among various smaller markets.

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 export value of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles experienced notable fluctuations. In 2018, exports peaked at 277 K $ US, but by 2020, they had declined to 47 K $ US, a 75.9% drop from the previous year. The difference between the 2018 peak and the 2020 low was 5.9 times. The largest year-on-year increase was recorded in 2018, with a 162.3% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Austria remained the leading destination for Romania's exports of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles in value terms, capturing 82.0% of total export revenue. The remaining 18.0% was spread across multiple other markets, each with relatively small individual shares.

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

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

Imports coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles to Romania

Imports in kind, K t

Import volumes of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles into Romania displayed significant volatility. In 2017, imports hit their lowest point, while they peaked in 2018 at 124.1 K tonnes. By 2020, imports stood at 100.0 K tonnes, showing a slight 2.8% decrease from the previous year. The difference between the 2018 peak and the 2017 trough was 1.8 times. The largest increase occurred in 2018, with an 84.1% rise, while the most substantial decline was in 2019, with a 17.1% drop.

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

During the 2017–2020 period, Ukraine and Belarus were the primary sources for Romania's imports of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles in physical terms, together accounting for 99.0% of total import volume. Other countries contributed the remaining 1.0%.

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

The value of Romania's imports of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles showed marked fluctuations. In 2017, imports were at their lowest, while they reached their peak in 2018 at 9 340 K $ US. By 2020, imports had decreased to 6 435 K $ US, a 9.3% decline from the previous year. The difference between the 2018 peak and the 2017 low was 3 times. The largest increase was in 2018, with a 196.1% surge, and the most significant decrease occurred in 2019, with a 24.1% drop.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Belarus and Ukraine dominated Romania's imports of coniferous fuel wood in chips and particles in value terms, collectively representing 97.8% of total import expenditure. The remaining 2.2% was allocated among various other destinations, each with minimal individual contributions.

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

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