Textile finishing agents market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The market for textile finishing agents in Romania contracted from 54 428 t in 2019 to 38 655 t in 2024. This decline was driven by a prolonged slump in the textile industry, where new orders fell by 13% in 2021 and continued to drop in subsequent years. Cost pressures, including high wage expenses that reached 95.3% of total costs for apparel manufacturers in 2022, undermined competitiveness and reduced demand for production inputs.

Despite the downturn, the industry saw significant investments in modernisation, such as the launch of a state-of-the-art factory in Arad in 2022 and the expansion of the Stoenești unit to 10 000 m² per day in 2023. At the same time, tighter environmental regulations, including limits on hazardous chemicals under REACH and Oeko-Tex standards, influenced the composition of finishing agents used. By 2024, the premium segment for textiles with superior finishes had grown to 35% of the market, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences toward sustainable and high-quality products.

In value terms, the market also shrank from USD 38.9 million in 2019 to USD 30.7 million in 2024, mirroring the overall contraction of the sector under the combined effect of falling orders, regulatory pressures, and structural changes.

Production textile finishing agents in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

The market showed significant volatility during this period. Production reached its lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a {ampRatio}-fold difference between these years. In 2020, the output of textile finishing agents in Romania was valued at 1 352 thousand US dollars, representing a moderate decline of 5.9% compared to 2019.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations throughout the period. Production hit its lowest level in 2017 and reached its highest point in 2019, varying by {ampRatio} times between these years. In 2020, Romania produced 556.4 tons of textile finishing agents, which was 22.7% lower than in the previous year.

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

Exports textile finishing agents from Romania

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. The lowest {context} {volume} was recorded in 2017, while the highest occurred in 2020, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 3 times. In 2020, Romania's export volume of textile finishing agents amounted to 23 061 tons, marking a 27.3% increase compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 10.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 168.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Bulgaria (29.3% of exports in kind), Serbia (20.7% of exports in kind), and Germany (11.6% of exports in kind) were the top buyers of textile finishing agents from Romania. Together, they accounted for 61.7% of total 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 market displayed an unstable trend over this timeframe. The lowest {context} {volume} was observed in 2017, while the highest was recorded in 2020, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 2.8 times. In 2020, the value of textile finishing agents exported from Romania reached 21 170 thousand US dollars, which is 32.4% higher than the previous year. The largest decline was in 2019 at 4.6%, and the largest increase was in 2018 at 122.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Bulgaria (27.9% of exports in value terms), Serbia (21.4% of exports in value terms), and Moldova (11.4% of exports in value terms) remained the primary buyers of textile finishing agents from Romania. Collectively, they made up 60.6% 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 textile finishing agents to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Textile finishing agents imports into Romania increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 72 982 tons, showing a slight rise of 1.6% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 40.3%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Czechia (47.8% of imports in kind), Hungary (22.3% of imports in kind), and Austria (10.3% of imports in kind) dominated the import structure in kind for textile finishing agents into Romania. Together, they represented 80.4% 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

Cross-border shipments of textile finishing agents into Romania increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports were recorded at 56 778 thousand US dollars, which is 6.1% higher than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 31.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Czechia (44.7% of imports in value terms), Hungary (17.7% of imports in value terms), and Germany (7.5% of imports in value terms) formed the key group of partners for imports in value terms of textile finishing agents to Romania. Jointly, they accounted for 70.0% 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