Romania's agricultural film market has an annual consumption of approximately 25,000–30,000 tons, with import dependency exceeding 70%, dominated by intra-EU supply. Chinese agricultural film, leveraging cost-performance advantages, shows growing exports to Romania, though total volume remains modest. In 2026, rising LLDPE raw material cost centers, combined with tightening EU plastics regulations, create dual pressures of cost and compliance. Demand for functional agricultural film is growing at approximately 8–12% annually, making it the most attractive niche segment.
Source: Longzhong Information 2025 Q4 Agricultural Film Industry Report; Eurostat 2025 Trade Data; Zocun Information June 2026 PE Market Weekly
Romania's agricultural film market has a structural supply-demand gap; limited domestic production (approx. 7,000 tons/year) cannot meet modern agricultural demand. Consumption mainly consists of greenhouse film and mulch film, together accounting for ~75%. China, the world's largest agricultural film producer with annual output exceeding 2.6 million tons, has ample export capacity.
| Indicator | Romania | China (Reference) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Consumption | 25,000–30,000 tons | 2.4–2.6 million tons |
| Domestic Production | 6,000–8,000 tons | 2.6–2.8 million tons |
| Import Volume | 18,000–22,000 tons | Small amount of high-end film |
| Export Volume | ~1,000 tons | 150,000–200,000 tons |
Source: Eurostat 2025 Trade Statistics; Romania National Institute of Statistics (INS) 2025 Annual Report; Longzhong Information June 2026
In the first half of 2026, China's agricultural film industry operating rate remained in the 65–75% range with clear seasonal fluctuations. LLDPE raw material prices were at medium-to-high levels supported by international crude oil, with agricultural film ex-factory prices up ~5–8% year-on-year. Export markets are concentrated in Southeast Asia and Central Asia, while growth in exports to Europe is constrained by compliance costs.
Source: Zocun Information June 2026 Agricultural Film Market Monitor; China General Administration of Customs 2025 Export Statistics; Longzhong Information PE Weekly June 2026
Romania's agricultural film market is import-driven, with Germany, Italy, and Poland as the top three suppliers, together accounting for ~60% of import volume. End-user prices are notably affected by EUR exchange rates and logistics costs. Local distribution channel concentration is relatively high, with large agricultural cooperatives being the main purchasers.
| Supply Source | Share | CIF Reference (€/ton) |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | ~25% | 1,850–2,400 |
| Italy | ~20% | 1,700–2,250 |
| Poland | ~15% | 1,550–2,000 |
| China | ~4% | 1,350–1,750 |
Source: Eurostat 2025 Detailed Trade Data; Romanian Ministry of Agriculture 2025 Industry Brief (previous data cited, no updated public data as of July 2026)
Romania's agricultural film consumption is mainly greenhouse film and mulch film, with silage film growing rapidly along with livestock sector development. Functional agricultural film (anti-drip, photo-selective, biodegradable film) has a low share but leads in growth rate, representing the key direction for value enhancement.
| Product Segment | Consumption Share | Price Range (€/ton) | Annual Demand Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse Film | ~40% | 1,600–2,500 | ▲ Steady Growth |
| Mulch Film | ~35% | 1,200–1,800 | Stable |
| Silage Film | ~15% | 1,400–2,000 | ▲ Fast Growth |
| Functional/Specialty Film | ~10% | 2,200–3,500 | ▲▲ High-speed Growth |
Source: Romanian Agricultural Inputs Association 2025 Report; Eurostat Product-Level Trade Data (previous data cited, no updated public data as of July 2026)
Greenhouse film is the core finished product in Romania's agricultural film market, with annual consumption of ~10,000–12,000 tons and domestic production below 3,000 tons, creating a supply-demand gap exceeding 7,000 tons. In 2026, driven by the EU CAP subsidy policy, greenhouse expansion projects are increasing, with greenhouse film demand expected to grow ~8%.
Source: Romania National Institute of Statistics (INS) 2025 Agricultural Structure Survey; Eurostat 2025 Trade Data
Core raw materials LLDPE and LDPE account for 60–70% of production costs. In the first half of 2026, international crude oil prices remained at medium-to-high levels, with PE raw material costs transmitting to agricultural film ex-factory prices. Raw material prices in China's production regions are competitive, but logistics costs to Romania partly erode the price advantage.
| Raw Material / Intermediate | China Producer Price (CNY/ton) | Romania CIF Reference (€/ton) |
|---|---|---|
| LLDPE | 7,800–9,200 | 1,050–1,250 |
| LDPE | 9,200–10,800 | 1,200–1,400 |
| EVA (for functional film) | 13,500–16,500 | 1,750–2,100 |
Source: Longzhong Information June 2026 PE Raw Material Market Report; Argus Media June 2026 European Polymer Price Assessment
As an EU member state, Romania applies the EU Common Tariff (~6.5%) on agricultural film imports. GDP growth was ~2.8% in 2025, with agriculture accounting for 4.2% of GDP. Bilateral trade between China and Romania is growing steadily, with chemicals as a key category. EU CAP subsidies continue to support agricultural inputs.
| Indicator | Value | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Romania GDP Growth Rate | 2.8% (2025) | Stable |
| Agriculture GDP Share | 4.2% | Slightly Declining |
| EUR/RON Exchange Rate | ~5.0 | Stable |
| EU Agricultural Film Import Tariff | ~6.5% | Unchanged |
Source: World Bank 2025 Romania Economic Brief; EU TARIC Tariff Database 2026; National Bank of Romania (BNR) Exchange Rate Data
Key risks include tightening EU environmental regulations, exchange rate fluctuations (RON against USD), and intensifying localized competition. Opportunities lie in the high premium space for functional agricultural film, growing investment in Romania's agricultural modernization, and trade facilitation arising from improved China-Romania bilateral relations.
Source: European Commission 2026 Plastics Regulation Proposal; Argus Media Logistics Cost Report June 2026; Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2026 Bilateral Cooperation Bulletin