Starches market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The Romanian starch market expanded at the start of the period, with its value rising to 15 651 thousand USD in 2018. This growth was supported by a shift in consumer habits, as starch became more popular for home cooking, promoted by chefs and used more frequently as a thickening agent in sauces and fillings. The upward trend continued into 2019, lifting the market value to 16 804 thousand USD.

The market contracted sharply in 2020 to 11 916 thousand USD, as the COVID-19 crisis disrupted international supply chains and drove up production and distribution costs across the economy. A partial recovery followed in 2021, with the market size rebounding to 13 863 thousand USD.

Beginning in 2022, the market was shaped by global surges in raw material and energy costs, which led to unprecedented price increases for starch. This price pressure caused market participants to adopt short-term contracts due to supply uncertainty. While import values rose steadily, export values experienced a dramatic surge, exceeding 80 000 thousand USD by 2024, reflecting the combined effect of higher unit prices and robust external demand.

Production starches in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

The market demonstrated volatility during the observed period. In 2019, the highest {context} {volume} was recorded at 18,409 K $ US, while the lowest occurred in 2020 at 10,922 K $ US, representing a peak-to-trough ratio of 1.7 times. This marked a steep drop of 40.7% from 2019 to 2020. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 34.1%.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of starches, 2017-2020

World map of production of starches, 2017-2020

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. In 2017, the maximum value was recorded at 213.1 K t, while the lowest was in 2020 at 33.4 K t, showing a peak-to-trough amplitude of 6.4 times. From 2019 to 2020, production decreased by 25.6%. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 81.7%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 15.4%.

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

Exports starches from Romania

Exports in kind, t

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. In 2019, the maximum value was recorded at 19,522 t, while the low was in 2017, with a fluctuation of 2.3 times between these years. In 2020, Romania exported 11,902 t of starches, showing a dramatic reduction of 39.0% compared to 2019. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 75.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Austria (24.7% of exports in kind), Greece (20.5% of exports in kind), and Italy (18.7% of exports in kind) were the main markets for exports in kind, together accounting for 63.9% of total 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

After a two-year gain, starches deliveries from Romania declined. In 2019, the maximum value was recorded at 8,347 K $ US, while in 2020, exports amounted to 6,288 K $ US, reflecting a robust decrease of 24.7% year-over-year. Over the period 2017-2020, exports increased by 66.2%, with a CAGR of 18.5%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 60.3%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Austria (25.0% of exports in value terms), Greece (17.8% of exports in value terms), and Italy (14.4% of exports in value terms) formed the core group of markets for exports in value terms, together representing 57.1% 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 starches to Romania

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year fall, Romania's starches imports increased. In 2019, the minimum value was recorded at 11,393 t, while in 2020, imports reached 12,609 t, up by 10.7% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 17.2%, equating to a 6.1% annualized rate. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 20.9%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Bulgaria (29.9% of imports in kind), Serbia (15.6% of imports in kind), and Italy (13.3% of imports in kind) remained the key directions for imports in kind, together taking 58.8% 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 decline, starches deliveries to Romania increased. In 2019, the minimum value was recorded at 6,742 K $ US, while in 2020, Romania imported 7,283 K $ US of starches, reflecting a controlled increase of 8.0% from a year earlier. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 5.5%.

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

Over 2017 to 2020, Bulgaria (21.1% of imports in value terms), Germany (14.8% of imports in value terms), and Italy (12.2% of imports in value terms) were the largest but not dominant suppliers of starches to Romania, together accounting for 48.1% of total imports in value terms against a broad background of smaller partners.

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

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