Increased grain terminal capacities in Constanta, Romania
The licensing system agreed with Ukraine for the import of some sensitive products into Romania has been extended with 7 more months, to avoid severe disruptions on the domestic market. At the same time, in the Black Sea port of Constanta, new capacities for grain storage and handling are being developed.
Imports from Ukraine only with license
The implementation deadline for the agricultural product licensing mechanism for some products imported from Ukraine has been extended up to July 31, 2025 inclusive, according to a decision taken by the Romanian Government in mid-December.
Minister Florin Barbu announced at the last Government meeting of 2024 (December 18), that the implementation of the licensing mechanism provided by Government Emergency Ordinance (GEO) no.84/2023 for some products from Ukraine is extended from December 31, 2024 to July 31, 2025, according to the ministry’s press release.
The justification for this extension is the maintenance of a balance in the Romanian agricultural products market and of the viability of farms active in the plant and livestock sectors, as well as Romanian processors.
"The measure was proposed because the licensing mechanism provided for by GEO no. 84/2023 on the establishment of a mechanism for consultation and coordinated reaction in the context of the implementation of the export authorization system introduced by Ukraine for agricultural products had the impact of mitigating and stabilizing Romania's domestic production and the market of some agri-food products, namely: wheat/meslin, maize, oilseeds, wheat flour, sugar, eggs, poultry meat, with beneficial effects for the entire agri-food chain," the Agriculture Ministry said in the statement.
Plans to increase grain terminal capacity in the port of Constanta
Transport Trade Services company (TTS) has recently approved an investment project to increase the operating capacity of the group's grain terminal in the Port of Constanta. The investment will be carried out by the subsidiary Canopus Star S.R.L. Constanta, with the works to be completed in 2026.
The company’s Board of Directors has approved the investment project to increase the operating capacity of the TTS Group's grain terminal in the Port of Constanta. Now in its third phase, the project consists of investments to increase the terminal's storage capacity from 110,000 tons at present to 180,000 tons, according to a statement issued in late December by TTS Constanta Group.
The investment consists of six cells with a storage capacity of 10,975 tons each, 5 buffer cells with a storage capacity of 863 tons each, a new cargo pick-up point from river units, equipment for one of the two new truck unloading points, the necessary equipment (belts, elevators) to serve the cargo flows and connections with the old terminal and three flow scales.
The new terminal will receive cargo from barges and trucks through two unloading points with a throughput capacity of 350 tons/hour each. For transhipment of cargo to ships, the two existing shiploaders will be used, which provide a speed of 800-1,000 tons/hour.
The estimated budget for the project is €23 million, excluding VAT, of which approximately 35% will be covered by Canopus Star's own resources, the remainder to be financed by a bank loan currently under negotiation. Works will start in January 2025 and are expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2026.