Romania’s grain cereal production increased last year by 9.1, namely 1.71 million tonnes, from 18.861 million tonnes reported in 2022 to 20.571 million tonnes, mainly due to higher yields per hectare, according to provisional data announced Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).

The increase in cereal production was directly influenced by an 11% increase in wheat production, which has a 46.8% share in cereal production.

Last year, Romania obtained a wheat production of 9.635 million tonnes from an area of 2.208 million hectares, while in 2022 the harvest was 8.684 million tonnes from an area of 2.169 million hectares.

In terms of maize production, Romania obtained 8.522 million tonnes last year, 485,000 tonnes more than in 2022, when 8.037 million tonnes were recorded. Last year, 2.373 million hectares were cultivated with maize, a decrease of 58,000 hectares compared to 2022.

Romania also has a total barley and two-row barley production of 2.001 million tonnes in 2023, an increase of 294,000 tonnes compared to 2022, and 155,000 tonnes of oat, a decrease of 17,000 tonnes.

At the European Union level, Romania ranked first in terms of the area cultivated with sunflower and maize, and second in terms of production, after France, and third, after France and Poland.

In terms of wheat production, Romania ranks fourth, after France, Germany and Poland. In terms of cultivated area, it moved up one place from last year, occupying the 4th position after France, Germany and Poland, ahead of Spain.

AGERPRES