Treenuts market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

After Romania became the largest walnut producer in the EU in 2017, market volume stood at 61 442 t in 2018. It then dropped to 52 654 t in 2020 due to drought, which reduced production by approximately 6%. However, by 2021 the market recovered to 63 931 t, supported by an increase in walnut trees to over 2 million, sustained by EU subsidies for fruit trees.

Growth continued, and by 2023 market volume reached 69 028 t, despite recurring droughts in 2022 and 2023. This growth was driven by strong export demand, particularly from Germany and France, as well as farmer investments in new product segments such as walnut oil and rakia. Prices rose significantly due to constrained supply and high international competition.

Throughout the period, EU subsidies played a key role in orchard expansion, with the number of trees growing from 1.9 million in 2019 to over 2.3 million in 2023. This expansion of production capacity, along with the formation of producer associations to develop a national brand, laid the foundation for sustained market growth.

Production treenuts in Romania

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of treenuts, 2017-2020

World map of production of treenuts, 2017-2020

Romania's treenuts production remained stable in 2020 at 49 980 tonnes, showing no change from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 8%, which translates to an average annual increase of 2.6%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 55 050 tonnes, representing a significant 19.0% increase. However, the following year saw the largest decline, with production dropping by 9.4% in 2019.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Romania's treenuts production value declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 248.6 million US dollars, down 3.1% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 17.3%, averaging an annual decline of 6.1%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 318.2 million US dollars, which marked a 5.8% increase. The most substantial drop occurred in 2019, with a 19.4% decrease.

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

Exports treenuts from Romania

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Romania's treenuts exports totalled 7 139 tonnes, representing a 35.3% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports grew by 31.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.5%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 5 276 tonnes, which saw a 9.6% decline.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Italy, France, and the Netherlands were the largest buyers of Romanian treenuts in volume terms, accounting for 20.3%, 14.9%, and 12.0% of exports respectively. However, their combined share was only 47.2% of total exports, indicating a highly diversified market structure with many other destinations.

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

Following two years of decline, Romania's treenuts exports rebounded in 2020, reaching 35.515 million US dollars—a sharp 30.8% increase from the previous year. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 27.148 million US dollars, which experienced a 19.5% decrease.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romanian treenuts were exported to a wide range of markets. Italy, France, and the Netherlands were the top destinations in value terms, accounting for 16.6%, 16.1%, and 13.0% of exports respectively. Together, these three markets represented just 45.6% of total export value, while the remaining 54.4% was distributed among numerous smaller partners.

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

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

Imports treenuts to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Romania's treenuts imports declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, totalling 9 814 tonnes—a 16.2% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 17.7%, averaging an annual decline of 6.3%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 12 229 tonnes, which saw a 2.6% increase.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Romania's treenuts imports in volume terms showed a highly diversified geographical structure. Hungary, Germany, and Bulgaria were the largest suppliers, accounting for 21.1%, 12.1%, and 9.4% of imports respectively. Together, these three countries represented only 42.7% of total imports, with the remaining 57.3% coming from numerous smaller partner countries.

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 treenuts import value declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 48.324 million US dollars—a modest 3.6% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value increased by 3.5%, averaging an annual growth of 1.1%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 52.751 million US dollars, which marked a 13.0% increase. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 5.0% decrease.

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

Analysis of Romania's treenuts import value from 2017 to 2020 reveals a broad distribution across multiple markets. Germany, Hungary, and Ukraine were the largest suppliers in value terms, accounting for 21.5%, 14.7%, and 9.3% of imports respectively. Together, these three countries represented only 45.5% of total import value, while the remaining 54.5% came from various other partners.

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

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