Milk powder with fat content of >1.5% market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2021, the Romanian market for milk powder with over 1.5% fat content underwent notable structural shifts. In 2018, the market volume reached 2 774 t, heavily reliant on imports of 2 326 t. This import dominance was reinforced by the entry of major international players such as Milupa/Danone, Nestle, and Humana, which expanded import flows and reduced the share of local producers, of which only four remained compared to 40 in the 1990s. After a contraction to 1 934 t in 2019, the market recovered to 2 335 t by 2021, with domestic production showing volatility and imports gradually declining.

From 2022 onward, regulatory changes shaped the market dynamics. The adoption of Law No. 307/2022 on milk and dairy products introduced strict labeling, presentation, and sales rules for dairy products, including milk powder, and established a Milk and Dairy Products Observatory for data collection. This coincided with a sharp market contraction to 1 444 t in 2022, where production fell to 222 t and imports dropped to 1 348 t. Following the approval of implementing methodological norms in February 2023, the market stabilized and grew to 1 892 t in 2023, supported by a rebound in imports to 2 017 t. In 2024, the market volume increased further to 2 072 t, driven entirely by imports rising to 2 104 t against a backdrop of declining domestic production to 151 t, reflecting persistent shortages in industrial processing capacity for standardized products like milk powder and discussions on introducing a subsidy of 25 euro per ton of delivered milk to support local output.

Production milk powder with fat content of >1.5% in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Romania's milk powder production with over 1.5% fat content was valued at 1 386 thousand US dollars in 2020, marking a significant 15.3% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 58.1%, with an average annual decline of 25.2%.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of milk powder with fat content of >1.5%, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk powder with fat content of >1.5%, 2017-2020

The market displayed considerable volatility during the observed period. Production peaked in 2018 at 940.0 tonnes, then dropped to its lowest point in 2019 at 276.9 tonnes—a 3.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Romania produced 760.0 tonnes of milk powder with over 1.5% fat content, representing a sharp 174.5% increase from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 70.5%.

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

Exports milk powder with fat content of >1.5% from Romania

Exports in kind, t

Export trends showed instability throughout the timeframe. Exports reached their highest level in 2019 at 647 tonnes and their lowest in 2017, with a 2.5-fold variation between these years. In 2020, Romania exported 369 tonnes of milk powder with over 1.5% fat content, a substantial 42.9% decrease compared to 2019. The most significant increase was recorded in 2018, when exports grew by 93.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Greece, Italy, and China were the primary destinations for Romania's milk powder exports by volume. Greece accounted for 49.3% of exports, Italy for 18.2%, and China for 13.9%. Together, these three countries represented 81.4% 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, K $ US

The market exhibited volatile behavior in terms of export value during these years. The highest export value was recorded in 2019, while the lowest occurred in 2017, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 3.5 times. In 2020, Romania exported 2 316 thousand US dollars worth of milk powder with over 1.5% fat content, a 46.4% decline from the previous year. The largest increase happened in 2018, when export value surged by 144.3%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Greece, China, and the United Kingdom were the leading buyers of Romanian milk powder by value. Greece accounted for 38.6% of export value, China for 32.7%, and the United Kingdom for 16.0%. Collectively, these three markets made up 87.3% 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 milk powder with fat content of >1.5% to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Romania's imports of milk powder with over 1.5% fat content declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 1 798 tonnes—a 22.0% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 11.3%, with an average annual decline of 3.9%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 326 tonnes, and the largest increase occurred that same year, with imports rising by 14.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Poland, the Netherlands, and Portugal were the main sources of milk powder imports by volume for Romania. Poland accounted for 34.3% of imports, the Netherlands for 17.4%, and Portugal for 6.6%. Together, these three countries supplied 58.3% 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, K $ US

Following a two-year increase, Romania's imports of milk powder with over 1.5% fat content declined in value in 2020. Imports totaled 6 539 thousand US dollars that year, a significant 24.7% drop from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 4.9%, with an average annual decline of 1.7%. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at 8 682 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase occurred that year, with value rising by 16.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Poland, the Netherlands, and France were the key sources of milk powder imports by value for Romania. Poland accounted for 24.7% of import value, the Netherlands for 20.1%, and France for 11.1%. Combined, these three countries represented 55.9% of total import value.

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

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