Romania recorded a deficit of EUR 854 million in the food trade in 2017, up by 53% compared to the previous year, according to the Agriculture Ministry.

The food imports went up 9% over 2016, to EUR 7.1 billion, while exports only increased by 4.6%, to EUR 6.23 billion.

While Romania mainly exports raw materials, it imports processed food, with higher added value, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Grain were Romania’s biggest exports in 2017. The country exported EUR 1 billion worth of wheat, EUR 730 million worth of corn, rape seeds worth EUR 580 million, sunflower seeds worth EUR 520 million and barley worth EUR 200 million. The country also exported cattle worth EUR 200 million.

On the imports side, Romania spent most on pork (EUR 475 million), exotic fruits (EUR 400 million), milk and dairy products (EUR 314 million), chocolate (EUR 245 million) and coffee (EUR 200 million).

Romania only recorded a surplus in the food trade in two of the last 25 years, namely in 2013 and 2014.

editor@romania-insider.com