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Romania's trade deficit in agri-food products, up almost twice in Q1 2013
Romania's trade deficit in agri-food products increased almost twice in Q1 2013, from 161.28 million euros in Q1 2012 to 308.83 million euros at end-March 2013, according to the data the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) released last week.
Romania exported 1.288 million tonnes of agri-food products worth over 845 million euros in Q1 2013, down by 12% in terms of quantity from the same period in 2012, when the exports to the EU and non-EU countries totaled 1.468 million tonnes and the revenues amounted to 822 million euros.
On the other hand, the imports of agri-food products totaled 1.237 million tonnes in Q1 2013, with a value of 1.153 million euros, and in Q1 2012 they amounted to 1.163 million tonnes and were worth 983.3 million euros.
The product having recorded the highest exports to the EU and non-EU markets was wheat, which brought Romania almost 141 million euros (531,401 tonnes), followed by maize, which brought revenues of 121.48 million euros (223,966 tonnes). Cigarillos, cigars and cigarettes (7,265 tonnes) ranked 3rd in terms of export-brought revenues, with 106.1 million euros, and sunflower seeds and live cattle brought Romania 92.9 million euros and 31.2 million euros respectively, in Q1 2013.
According to the MADR, Romania imported in H1 2013 significant quantities of maize (41,947 tonnes), for which over 58.9 million euros was spent.
The European Union is Romania's main trade partner in terms of agri-food products.