August 23, 2012

In January-April of 2012, Romania received almost EUR69 million (US$86.5 million) from livestock and poultry exports, a 5% increase from the same period in 2011, when these exports totalled EUR63.57 million (US$80 million).

Thus, in the first four months of 2012, as many as 30,015.2 tonnes of livestock and poultry were sold on the EU and extra-EU market, mostly cattle, swine, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and geese, by 4% more compared with the amount of 28,860.2 tonnes in the first four months of 2011.

Cattle exports exceeded 18,303 tonnes, worth EUR42.3 million (US$53 million), in the first four months of 2011, the export of sheep/goats having stood at 7,898.7 tonnes, with revenues of EUR21.89 million (US$27.5 million).

According to MADR data, foreign markets were also 'supplied' over January 1-April 30, 2012 with live horses, asses and mules (3,566 tonnes), worth EUR6.813 million (US$8.5 million), but also with chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls, worth over EUR3.47 million (US$4.4 million) for a quantity of 3,501 tonnes.

As to live swine, Romania exported only 69.4 tonnes of pigs worth EUR189.98 million (US$238 million), because of the interdiction to export live animals of this species on the EU market.

Also, the imports of livestock and poultry were on the rise, from 9,675 tonnes at end-April 2011, to 12,288.5 tonnes in the first four months of 2012. The value of these imports was by some 37% higher than in the same period of 2011, totalling EUR34.82 million (US$44 million).

The most significant imports were swine, about 6,959 tonnes, worth EUR12.78 million (US$16 million), live chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls (1,314.66 tonnes) totalling EUR8.89 million (US$11.1 million).