Wadding articles market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for wadding articles in Romania remained stable around 6 700 t in 2018 and 2019 before surging to 9 159 t in 2020. This sharp increase was driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, which boosted consumer demand for hygiene products and accelerated the shift to online shopping, with e-commerce growing by 30% in Romania that year.

After the pandemic peak, market volume gradually declined to 6 073 t by 2024. During this period, the industry saw significant investments in domestic production. In 2023, Knauf Insulation completed a €140 million glass wool factory in Târnăveni, and Saint-Gobain reopened its glass fiber mineral wool plant in Ploiești, enhancing local manufacturing capacity for insulation materials.

The market value followed a different pattern, peaking at $41.1 million in 2019 before falling to $21.1 million in 2023, then partially recovering to $30.6 million in 2024. These fluctuations reflect changing trade dynamics, with imports and exports both expanding substantially in the later years.

Production wadding articles in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Romania's wadding articles production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 6 077 K $ US, marking a moderate drop of 8.5% compared to 2019. Between 2018 and 2020, production decreased by 14.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 5.1%.

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Romania's wadding articles production fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, 3 518 t were produced, down by 11.0% year-on-year. Over the 2018-2020 period, production decreased by 14%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -4.9%.

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

Exports wadding articles from Romania

Exports in kind, t

Wadding articles deliveries from Romania increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports reached 1 664 t, showing no significant change compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 2.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 1.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Switzerland (29.5% of exports in kind), Poland (17.7% of exports in kind), and Croatia (13.2% of exports in kind) formed the core group of markets, together representing 60.4% 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 increase, exported wadding articles volumes from Romania declined. In 2020, exports amounted to 11 618 K $ US, down by 4.1% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 20.1%, with a CAGR of 6.3%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 12 119 K $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 17.6%.

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

In 2017–2020, Switzerland (33.8% of exports in value terms), Poland (19.3% of exports in value terms), and Croatia (15.1% of exports in value terms) formed the main cluster of markets, with a combined share of 68.2% 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 wadding articles to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Wadding articles shipments to Romania from abroad increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 7 305 t, up by 65.2% compared with 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 39.4%, equating to an annualized rate of 11.7%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 4 278 t, which also saw the largest decline of 18.4%.

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

In 2017–2020, Poland (31.4% of imports in kind), Bulgaria (10.3% of imports in kind), and China (8.1% of imports in kind) were among the largest suppliers to Romania, but even together they represented just 49.8% of total imports, indicating a broadly diversified partner base.

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 imported 44 356 K $ US of wadding articles in 2020, which is 4.7% lower compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 40 773 K $ US, with the largest decline of 6.2% that year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 46 545 K $ US, which also saw the largest increase of 14.2%.

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

During 2017–2020, imports in value terms of wadding articles to Romania were allocated across a large number of markets. Poland (25.0% of imports in value terms), Indonesia (10.7% of imports in value terms), and South Korea (10.0% of imports in value terms) jointly accounted for only 45.8% of total flows.

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

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