The Dynamics of Trade in Vegetables in Romania

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify current and future trends in terms of trade in vegetables in Romania starting from the analysis of imports and exports of horticultural products. The results of the research highlighted a significant imbalance in the trade in vegetables at the national level. The net higher values of imports compared to those of exports indicated that Romania presented an increased demand for vegetables imported from countries such as: Turkey, Holland, Germany, Poland and Spain, compared to exported values. This situation led to the registration of a deficit in the trade balance, which increased by 104 million euros in the last 3 years. The forecasts made for 2032 indicated a continuous increase in imports, reaching one million euros. At the same time, an increase in exports was anticipated, which will tend to reach 175 thousand euros, reflecting an attempt to compensate for the current imbalance.

Full text

DOI: 10.2478/picbe-2024-0129
© 2024 A.D. Giucă; R.Berevoianu; D. M. Ilie, published by Sciendo.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
The Dynamics of Trade in Vegetables in Romania
Andreea Daniela GIUCĂ
Research Institute for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (ICEADR), Bucharest,
Romania,
andreeagiuca@yahoo.com
Rozi BEREVOIANU
Research Institute for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (ICEADR), Bucharest,
Romania,
berevoianu.rozi@iceadr.ro
Diana Maria ILIE*
Research Institute for Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (ICEADR), Bucharest,
Romania, Email: necula.diana@iceadr.ro
*Corresponding author, andreeagiuca@yahoo.com
Abstract: The aim of the study was to identify current and future trends in terms of trade in vegetables in
Romania starting from the analysis of imports and exports of horticultural products. The results of the
research highlighted a significant imbalance in the trade in vegetables at the national level. The net higher
values of imports compared to those of exports indicated that Romania presented an increased demand for
vegetables imported from countries such as: Turkey, Holland, Germany, Poland and Spain, compared to
exported values. This situation led to the registration of a deficit in the trade balance, which increased by
104 million euros in the last 3 years. The forecasts made for 2032 indicated a continuous increase in
imports, reaching one million euros. At the same time, an increase in exports was anticipated, which will
tend to reach 175 thousand euros, reflecting an attempt to compensate for the current imbalance.
Keywords: trade, trade balance, vegetables, trends, forecasts
Introduction
The purpose of the paper is to present the dynamics of the vegetable trade in Romania and to make
a forecast, with the help of the forecast function, based on the data provided by ITC regarding the
import and export values of horticultural products.
The hypothesis of the research that is the basis of the substantiation of the study is the
downward trend of trade flows with vegetables, which led to a deficit of the trade balance in
Romania.
Horticulture is one of the traditional activities in Romania, a country that presents a very
high potential in terms of growing vegetables, due to the climate and pedoclimatic conditions
favorable to the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. The tradition of growing vegetables is proven
by the large number of horticulturists, as well as by the areas cultivated with vegetables at the
national level (Soare et al. 2012; Popescu, 2013).
Cultivating vegetables was one of the main activities of Romanian farms, which were
strongly affected, both by the process of nationalization/collectivization in the communist period,
and by the deficient retrocession in the post-communist period. But, starting in 2007, with

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Romania's accession to the EU, investments in the agricultural field, including those in the
vegetable sector, played an essential role, both by establishing new agricultural holdings and by
modernizing existing ones (Tudor, 2018).
Cultivation of vegetables can be done both in the field and in protected spaces (solars).
According to Micu et al. (2017), cultivation in protected spaces is much more efficient and ensures
better production, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in addition it allows the production and
marketing of products in the off-season.
The vegetable market in Romania has several particularities, such as: the atomization of
demand and supply; the homogeneity, seasonality and perishability of the products as well as the
existence of a poorly developed collection system at the regional level (Drigă, 2018).
Also, the offer of vegetable products has a seasonal character, due to which the phenomenon
of price volatility appears for these categories of products. At the same time, due to the seasonal nature
of production, the supply cannot cover the consumption needs of the population (demand). In this
case, the solution is represented by imported goods. Studies show that approx. 40% of the vegetables
consumed by Romanians are imported products (Ion & Dobre, 2015; Giucă & Petre, 2022).
Literature review
The vegetable sector has a very important role in ensuring food security, both globally and
nationally. For this reason, trade flows with vegetables have become one of the major concerns of
Romania, which is facing a deficit in the trade balance, which is increasing from year to year
(Horning et al., 2021)
The research results of Constantin et al. (2022), validated the following hypothesis: an
increase in the quantity of vegetables imported into Romania causes a sharp decrease in the national
production of vegetables. In other words, the national production of vegetables is directly and
negatively influenced by the imports of vegetable products, which are increasing and leading to a
dependence of the country on the large global vegetable chains.
The results of the study carried out by Alboiu (2015), show a very low level of integration
of small producers in the fruit and vegetable supply chain, determined by several constraints such
as: high transaction costs and the lack of participation in collective actions for commercial
purposes. Worldwide, especially in developing countries such as Romania, agricultural
cooperatives are recognized as institutional commitments that support small farmers and help them
overcome the constraints they face (Dumitru et al., 2023; Enthoven et al., 2023).
Currently, the Romanian horticultural chain is characterized by uncertainty regarding the
production and marketing of vegetables, and this has a negative impact on farmers' incomes and
investment decisions. In the research developed by Soare et al. (2012), a series of problems faced
by producers, processors and distributors of vegetables in Romania were identified, among them
are: difficulties in marketing vegetables in an optimal period of time, so that they do not it breaks
down; low endowment of farms with modern technical means of production and harvesting, which
causes poor productivity; fragmentation of agricultural land on which vegetables are grown, as well
as the use of non-performing seeds.
According to Drigă, (2018), one of the most important problems faced by Romanian
horticulturists is the difficult adaptation to the new production and marketing standards, following
the model of developed EU countries, such as Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands.
In the specialized literature, studies present the gaps in terms of the development of the
horticultural sector between Romania and EU countries. Many researches present the advantages

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of different forms of cooperation of producers established in developed countries, which aim to
defend the interests of producers, to achieve a better yield of production through its planning, to
capitalize on production, economic growth and at the same time local development.
Another problem often encountered in the horticultural sector in Romania is represented by
the practice of subsistence agriculture. In the vegetable sector, more than 90% of the producers
practice small-scale agriculture, cultivating areas smaller than 3 ha, and their penetration into the
large markets is very difficult. This fact has the effect of a weak development of exports, leaving
room on the market for imported products (Bădan et al., 2020).
Also, another factor that influences the growth of imports of horticultural products in
Romania is represented by the change in the consumption behavior of the population. Consumers
have become much more informed and aware of the importance of eating healthy food, turning to
organic vegetables (Küçük et al., 2023).
In recent years, the demand and supply of organic food products has registered a continuous
growth, with fresh vegetables being the most sold product category on the European market. The
results of a study by Rădulescu et al. 2021, shows that consumers' attitude towards the consumption
of organic vegetables is directly influenced by: the information provided to them regarding the benefits
of consuming organic products, personal needs and motivations, and other external influences.
Regarding the value chain of organic vegetables in Romania, the research developed by
Dan & Jitea (2023) shows that it is quite simple and short. In approx. In 50% of cases, there is a
distributor only between the producer and the consumer, and the processing function is very poorly
developed, approximately 90% of the vegetables end up being sold in their natural state.
With regard to the activity in the organic vegetable sector, the data presented in the study
developed by Soare & Micu (2018), indicated in 2018 an average certified area of 252,752.08 ha,
an average number of operators of 11,161 units and an average area of 22.64 ha per operator.
Methodology
This paper is based on data provided by International Trade Centre (ITC), examining the import
and export of vegetables in Romania, with a focus on the main partner countries and the country's
trade balance. Using the FORECAST forecasting method in SPSS, we developed estimates for
Romania's vegetable imports and exports until the year 2032, based on the data recorded between
2010 and 2022. The purpose of this research is to determine the forecasts for Romania's vegetable
imports and exports in the 2022-2032 range, thus contributing to the understanding and anticipation
of market evolution in the coming period.
Results and discussions
In Romania, the situation of vegetable imports and exports shows a significant imbalance. The net
higher values of imports compared to export values indicate that Romania has an increased demand
for imported vegetables compared to what it manages to export. This situation can have economic and
strategic implications, which requires a careful approach and the development of appropriate strategies
for each group of vegetables. In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
(MADR) decided to grant a minimum aid for the cultivation of certain groups of vegetables, in order
to ensure, as much as possible, a year-round market for vegetables produced in Romania.
It can be seen that the value of vegetable imports in Romania increased constantly until
2019. In 2010, the value of vegetable imports was 144 million euros, and in 2022 it reached the
level of 632 million euros, representing an increase impressive over 338%.

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During 2022, according to the TradeMap database, Romania imported vegetables worth
632.2 million euros and exported more than 4 times less, worth 142.6 million euros (Figure 1).
Figure 1. The evolution of import and export of vegetables in Romania
in the period 2010-2022 (thousands of euros)
Source: TradeMap database, accessed October 2023.
As for the value of exports, it fluctuated in the time frame 2010-2022. The fluctuations can
be explained by the variations in the total production of vegetables obtained in different periods,
which influenced the selling price of vegetables and, implicitly, the volume of exports. In 2010,
the value of vegetable exports was 62 million euros, and in 2022 it reached the level of 142 million
euros, representing a significant increase of over 129% (Figure 1).
According to the trade data provided by the TradeMap database, the main countries from
which Romania imports vegetables are Turkey, from where vegetables worth 134 million euros
entered in 2022, the Netherlands (92.4 million euros), Germany (90.8 million euro), Poland (52.8
million euro) and Spain (40.8 million euro). Vegetable exports in 2022 are lower in value, with
Romania exporting to Italy (66.5 million euros), Germany (13.5 million euros), Poland (11.1
million euros), Ukraine (10.1 million euros) and Hungary (97.8 million euros) (Table 1).
Table 1. The main countries from which Romania imported/exported vegetables
in the period 2010-2022 (thousands of euros)
Roma nia
IMPORT
Roma nia
EXPORT
Turkey
Nether lands
Germany
Pola nd
Spain
Italy
Germany
Pola nd
Ukraine
Hungary
2010
144,256
43,539
16,076
6,647
7,622
3,860
62,197
34,903
5,458
611
0
2,801
2011
145,161
26,370
19,354
11,646
8,045
5,479
48,822
19,345
6,067
306
0
3,984
2012
159,366
23,578
20,398
13,920
15,060
7,987
51,254
22,276
4,880
397
7
5,288
2013
184,477
16,570
25,924
14,597
20,754
14,807
80,092
37,089
7,516
1,823
51
7,401
2014
229,443
30,252
29,755
14,553
18,772
16,457
88,037
40,204
11,550
1,355
0
4,934
2015
273,492
34,306
35,761
24,551
22,904
24,404
90,798
47,063
12,483
1,423
9
3,720
2016
364,921
55,478
46,273
34,320
36,551
26,738
86,781
37,459
10,943
1,761
16
3,364
2017
403,333
69,380
47,537
41,493
44,366
28,034
143,306
50,904
11,265
2,467
29
3,935
2018
427,704
81,127
46,706
46,302
48,476
28,454
96,016
44,859
11,375
3,047
5
4,167
2019
517,882
75,916
73,037
62,408
56,258
42,006
95,338
45,307
10,641
4,418
15
4,285
2020
479,775
92,225
67,570
58,928
41,626
35,549
95,104
48,953
8,387
6,437
832
5,754
2021
530,486
113,442
71,445
70,216
42,563
37,020
106,738
51,026
12,143
9,034
1,043
6,537
2022
632,188
134,119
92,418
90,798
52,785
40,823
142,631
66,512
13,564
11,162
10,158
7,816
2022/2021
19.17
18.23
29.36
29.31
24.02
10.27
33.63
30.35
11.70
23.56
873.92
19.57
2022/2010
338.24
208.04
474.88
1266.00
592.53
957.59
129.32
90.56
148.52
1726.84
-
179.04
Source: TradeMap database, accessed October 2023.
144,257
145,163
151,328
176,265
214,447
258,750
345,639
381,717
427,701
517,883
479,772
530,486
632,189
62,198
48,824
46,453
71,320
78,738
80,864
77,119
134,633
96,015
95,336
95,104
106,741
142,631
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Import (thousands of euros) Export (thousands of euros)

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Romania's vegetable trade balance deficit increased by 104 million euros in the last 3 years
(2020-2022). In 2022, the trade deficit with vegetables was 489.5 million euros, 15% more than
the previous year (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Trade balance with vegetables in Romania in the period 2010-2022 (thousands of euros)
Source: TradeMap database, accessed October 2023.
Figure 3. The suppliers with the greatest export potential in Romania
of fresh or refrigerated vegetables
Source: Intracen.org.
-82,059
-96,339
-108,112
-104,385
-141,406
-182,694
-278,140
-260,027
-331,688
-422,544
-384,671
-423,748
-489,557
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Series1 Linear (Series1) Linear (Series1) 2 per. Mov. Avg. (Series1)

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The suppliers with greatest potential to export Fresh or chilled vegetables to Romania are
Italy, Spain and Netherlands. Bulgaria has closest export links with Romania. Spain has the highest
supply capacity in 0709Xb Fresh or chilled vegetables (Figure 3).
Figure 4. Forecasts regarding Romania's vegetable import
Source: Own processing based on Trademap data.
Romania's vegetable import in 2010 was 144.2 thousand euros, reaching in 2022 to import
vegetables worth 632.2 thousand euros. According to estimates, in 2032, imports will reach one
million euros, where the pessimistic version estimates imports worth 13 million euros, and the
optimistic version estimates imports worth 90 thousand euros (Figure 4).
Figure 5. Forecasts regarding Romania's vegetable export
Source: Own processing based on Trademap data.
Regarding exports, in 2010, Romania exported vegetables worth 62.2 thousand euros,
reaching in 2022 to export vegetables worth 142.6 thousand euros. According to estimates,

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vegetable exports will reach 175 thousand euros; the pessimistic version estimates exports worth
140 thousand euros, while the optimistic version estimates exports worth 123 thousand euros
(Figure 5).
The foreign trade forecast was made based on the time period, in addition to the time factor,
it can also be influenced by: the volatility of prices for horticultural products, extreme weather
phenomena (temperature and amount of precipitation), the degree/level of productivity.
Conclusion
Vegetable import values have seen steady growth through 2019, reaching a remarkable level in
2022, showing a significant increase of over 338% between 2010 and 2022. This underlines a trend
of increasing import dependence. In parallel, vegetable exports recorded significant fluctuations in
the period 2010-2022, influenced by the variability of total vegetable productions. With an increase
of over 129% over the same period, exports reflect the market's ability to adapt and diversify its
destinations.
Analysis of trade data reveals that the main partner countries for vegetable imports include
Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Spain. Instead, exports are mainly directed to Italy,
Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Hungary. There is also a deficit in the trade balance with vegetables
that has grown steadily in recent years, reaching 489.5 million euros in 2022. Projections for 2032
suggest a continuation of this trend, having a significant impact on the national economy.
Estimates for 2032 indicate a continuous increase in imports, reaching one million euros.
At the same time, exports are expected to reach 175 thousand euros, reflecting an attempt to
compensate for the current imbalance. These developments underline the importance of a careful
approach and effective strategies to manage this discrepancy and sustain trade balance in the
vegetable sector.
Acknowledgment
This work was supported by the ADER 2023-2026 Sectoral Projects launched by the Romanian
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ADER financing contract 22.1.3/2023 –
Economic efficiency in small and medium-sized farms of production technologies in an ecological
system for the main horticultural crops vegetables from Romania in order to reduce the effects of
climate change, project coordinated by ICEADR - Research Institute for Agricultural Economics
and Rural Development, Bucharest.
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