Agro food trade to generate €2 bln Romanian deficit

In the first ten months of 2007 the import of food products reached some €2.5 bln, 30 percent higher than the same period in 2006.

There was a small drop in pork meat, sugar and tobacco, and a significant rise in meslin and wheat. Exports were worth €902 million, 36 percent higher than in the January-October 2006 period.

Larger imports of food and raw materials, especially grain, are expected in 2008, which will lead to an increase in the agro food deficit.

“The deficit will surely rise by more than 20 percent because 2008 is an election year, and the government will no longer pay attention to the food industry,” said Dragos Frumosu, President of the Federation of Food Industry Trade Unions. He added that Romania’s top imports will be raw materials, such as meat, grain, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, canned goods and alcoholic drinks.