• Romania ranks 15th in the top markets for Italian agri-food products globally, being outranked in Central and Eastern Europe only by Poland and Greece.
According to the official data, in 2023 Romania was in the 17th position in the ranking. Last year, Romania's imports of agricultural and agri-food products from Italy exceeded 882 million euros, registering an increase of 142% compared to the previous year (approximately 80% of these products being processed food and beverages).
In 2023, the main Italian food products imported into Romania were bakery and pastry products (1,117 million euros), coffee (857 million euros), cheeses and dairy products (833 million euros).
Italy is the market leader in several categories of products imported into Romania, these being the most popular Italian products worldwide. Italy occupies the first position in the supply of canned tomatoes (with a share of 70,1% of the total Romanian imports of such products), wines (with a share of 28,7%), olive oil (share of 40,7%) and flour pasta (share of 30,9%).
Also, Italy ranks second in the supply of coffee (23,8% share) and third for dried and preserved meat products (prosciutti, speck, etc. - 16% share), cheeses and dairy (share of 13,4%) and bakery and pastry products (share of 12,1%).
Italian wines in the top of preferences
Italian wines are highly appreciated in Romania. Over the past five years, imports of sparkling wines (including Prosecco) from Italy have increased 26 times in value and 23 times in quantity, and imports of bottled still wines have increased 23 times in value and 22 times in volume. amount. In 2023, 54% of all imported Italian wines were represented by Prosecco and sparkling wines, and 42% bottled still wines.
On the other hand, Romania exported to Italy agricultural and food products worth 952 million euros last year, down 6,2% compared to 2022. Italy is the first destination of Romanian exports in this category (a third of these exports being processed food products and drinks). The most exported product categories from Romania are cereals, oilseeds, tobacco, animal and vegetable fats and oils, meat and by-products.
Italy is one of the most important producers and exporters of wine globally, occupying the second place in production and the first place in exports in 2023. With a production that represents almost a fifth of the world's wine production, Italy has registered more than 545 varieties of vines (of which 350 are native red varieties), being the country with the largest number of such varieties in the world. This underlines Italy's rich biodiversity heritage, which, thanks to a millennial tradition, offers local wines of the highest quality.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor of Arta Albă
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