Romania’s total trade deficit reached 29.77 billion euros in the first 11 months of 2025, of which approximately €3.65 billion came from the food and live animals’ sector, according to the study “Strengthening National Production in Strategic Agri-Food Sectors to Reduce Romania’s Trade Deficit.”
The research, conducted by Penny Romania in partnership with the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, examines structural vulnerabilities in food trade and highlights opportunities to expand local production.
Data analysis indicates that the imbalance stems from a structural issue: Romania exports low-value raw materials while importing processed goods with high added value. The largest deficits are concentrated in five strategic sectors: meat, dairy, sweets and snacks, and canned fruit and vegetables.
In this context, the TripluRO program, launched by Penny Romania in 2020, has gained national strategic importance. The model requires that the main ingredient, processing, and packaging all take place in Romania, ensuring that added value remains within the local economy. The program is already delivering tangible results: TripluRO products currently account for 55% of turnover, 68% of the assortment consists of Romanian products, and 87% of Penny’s suppliers are Romanian companies.
“TripluRO is a project we truly believe in and are building together with our production and processing partners, academia, and public institutions. The results so far clearly show growing demand for Romanian products and significant untapped potential in the food industry. When value chains are properly integrated, value stays in the country, with direct effects on communities, investments, and the competitiveness of the Romanian economy,” said Daniel Gross, CEO of Penny Romania.
The study’s analysis is based on data from the National Institute of Statistics for the period 2013–2024, supplemented by conclusions from four roundtable discussions held at the Ministry of Finance. Participants included representatives from ANSVSA, the Ministry of Agriculture, APIA, AFIR, the Competition Council, banking institutions, processors, and local producers. Discussions highlighted the need for farmer associations, investments in processing, improved access to financing, legislative predictability, and workforce professionalization.
The study also notes progress compared to the previous edition. While seven strategic industries were analyzed in 2022, between 2022 and 2025 the deficit decreased in two sectors—pet food and soaps/detergents. However, imbalances persisted in four sectors—meat, dairy, sweets/snacks/pastries, and canned goods—underscoring the need for coordinated public and private interventions.
The report outlines several strategic directions to reduce the trade deficit and stimulate domestic production, including strengthening local value chains through farmer-processor-retailer cooperation and short supply chains; ensuring fiscal predictability and performance-based support schemes to encourage long-term investment; expanding domestic processing capacity and adopting modern technologies; promoting entrepreneurial education for farmers and vocational training for agri-food professions; advancing digitalization and innovation through a national agricultural data platform and regional agro-industrial hubs; and educating consumers about the benefits of locally sourced products.
According to the report, if all retail networks adopted a similar share of 3RO products, the macroeconomic impact could be significant, including a reduced trade deficit, higher GDP, growth in the domestic processing industry, and job creation in local communities.
Part of the German REWE Group, Penny currently operates 462 stores nationwide in Romania and employs more than 7,500 people.
Source: Agerpres