Melons market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, Romania was a major European melon producer with approximately 22,000 hectares under cultivation. The following year, volatile weather conditions in the Dăbuleni area affected planting schedules and contributed to a dip in production. Despite this, output surged in 2020, reaching a peak of nearly 87,000 tonnes.

From 2021 onward, a sustained decline set in. Cultivated area in key counties like Dolj began to shrink, and by 2023, production had fallen significantly due to a combination of high production costs, climate change impacts such as drought and irregular rainfall, and a shortage of harvest labor. Rising imports from Greece, Turkey, and other countries partially offset the drop in domestic supply, but total market volume contracted sharply. By 2024, the sown area had plummeted to around 10,200 hectares, and national production was 65% lower than in 2018. Market functionality was hampered by a lack of modern collection and storage infrastructure, forcing farmers to sell at low prices to intermediaries while consumers faced higher retail prices. Enhanced monitoring of pesticide residues, initiated in July 2024, added further regulatory scrutiny to the sector.

Production melons in Romania

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of melons, 2017-2020

World map of production of melons, 2017-2020

In 2019, Romania's melon production hit its lowest point at 56 240 tonnes, marking a 9.4% decline. However, production rebounded strongly in 2020, reaching 86 780 tonnes—a significant 54.3% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 44.8%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 13.1%.

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

Exports melons from Romania

Exports in kind, t

Romania's melon exports showed notable fluctuations during this period. In 2018, exports dropped to their lowest level at just 9 tonnes, representing a sharp 43.3% decline. The following year saw a dramatic recovery, with exports surging by 290.7%. By 2020, exports reached 36 tonnes, reflecting a modest 7.6% gain compared to 2019. Overall, exports peaked in 2020 and were 4.2 times higher than the low point recorded in 2018.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main buyers of Romanian melons were Moldova, accounting for 32.2% of exports in kind, the Netherlands with 29.8%, and Poland at 9.5%. Together, these three markets comprised 71.5% of Romania's total melon 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 value of Romania's melon exports experienced significant volatility. In 2018, exports hit their lowest point at 12 thousand US dollars, but then surged by 210.9% in 2019 to reach a peak of 39 thousand US dollars. However, in 2020, exports declined by 35.1% to 25 thousand US dollars. Overall, exports in 2019 were 3.1 times higher than the low recorded in 2018.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Moldova and the Netherlands dominated Romania's melon exports in value terms, together accounting for 83.1% of total export flows. The remaining share was distributed among other destinations.

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

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

Imports melons to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Romania's melon imports have been on an upward trend, increasing for the second consecutive year in 2020. Imports reached 9 743 tonnes in 2020, up 22.9% compared to the previous year. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 4 947 tonnes, which represented an 18.5% decline. Imports then rebounded sharply in 2019, growing by 60.3%. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 60.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Greece was the leading supplier of melons to Romania, accounting for 36.5% of imports in kind, followed by Turkey at 23.2% and the Netherlands at 13.2%. Together, these three countries supplied 72.9% of Romania's total melon imports in kind.

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

Romania's spending on melon imports has risen for three consecutive years, reaching 7 244 thousand US dollars in 2020—a 20.3% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values grew by 66.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 18.5%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Turkey, Greece, and the Netherlands remained the top sources for Romania's melon imports in value terms. Turkey accounted for 27.2% of import value, Greece for 23.2%, and the Netherlands for 17.8%. Combined, these three countries represented 68.2% 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