Market study release: ornamentals and cut flowers in Romania
The agriculture team at the Netherlands embassy in Bucharest commissioned an update on a market study presented in 2019 on the sector of ornamental plants and cut flowers. The study, utilizing comparative data from 2020 and 2021, underscores interesting opportunities within Romania's ornamental plants and cut flowers market.
According to the executive summary, presently, the local production in this sector remains notably modest, concentrated primarily in select regions across the country. While Romania's export figures remain relatively restrained, there has been a consistent upward trajectory in the import of cut flowers and ornamentals in recent years. This trend signifies an escalating demand for these botanical varieties, a demand that indigenous production struggles to satisfy.
Chief supplier
Of particular interest is the enduring dominance of the Netherlands as the chief supplier of ornamentals and cut flowers to Romania. In the year 2021 alone, imports from the Netherlands achieved the highest market value in Romania at around 40 million EUR.
According to the report, public sector entities, much like in 2015, persist as the primary consumers of ornamental flora. Romania's endeavors to enhance and uphold green spaces throughout its landscape have persisted since 2007. However, the attainment of optimal green space per capita in many urban centers remains uncertain. This is underscored by the inclusion of dedicated funding measures for green infrastructure within each Regional Development Plan for the period 2021-2027. The scope for progress is substantial. Challenges that arise in implementing pioneering projects within this sector, such as sometimes sub-optimal equipment, training, and expertise, concurrently present openings for engagement at various levels. Opportunities encompass equipment exchange, educational initiatives, and consultancy services.
Funding for green projects
Furthermore, an array of funding avenues for green projects is accessible to SMEs, NGOs, the research and development sector, as well as industrial and agricultural entities. These financing options encompass a spectrum ranging from comprehensive project implementation to initiatives that heighten public awareness
The Netherlands has already cemented its position as a market trailblazer, holding the lion's share of ornamental and cut flower imports. Its established reputation for innovation within the sector is noteworthy. Against the backdrop of an evolving cultural disposition that increasingly values urban green spaces and with the diverse range of financing prospects, coupled with past triumphant collaborative ventures involving foreign partners, Romania emerges as an enticing and fertile ground for expanding Dutch enterprises. The underlying aspiration of this report is to invigorate those with an interest in amplifying their presence in Romania, positioning them at the vanguard of a new era of growth within the ornamental sector.
Are you a Dutch entrepreneur/company interested in the ornamental or cut flower sector in Romania and this study might provide you with useful information?
Please contact us at bkr-lnv@minbuza.nl in order to receive a copy.