LONDON: Romania imported food worth almost EUR 3.5 billion in the first half of this year (H1), up 17% year-on-year. By comparison, the country’s food exports rose by 4.5% during this period to EUR 2.4 billion, reports local Agerpres.
The trade deficit with agri-food products thus exceeded EUR 1 billion in the first six months of this year, up 60.4% year-on-year, according to data from Romania’s Agriculture and Regional Development Ministry. The data from the National Statistics Institute (INS) show an even higher trade deficit with agri-food products during this period, namely over EUR 1.1 billion. Wheat remained the main exported product in the first half of this year, with revenues of EUR 389 million for 2.1 million tons. Wheat imports amounted to EUR 106.8 million for 636,800 tons during this period. Romania’s trade deficit with agri-food products reached EUR 557.4 million last year, six times higher than in 2015, when it amounted to EUR 89.2 million.
