EUROPEAN AND ROMANIAN TRADE IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLES –EVALUATIONS OF EFFECTS OF THE RUSSIAN EMBARGO

Abstract

The paper aims to present the evolution of vegetables and fruit trade during the period 2002-2015 in the European Union and Romania, as well as the effects of the Russian embargo enforced in 2014. The data have been extracted from Eurostat and Romanian National Institute of Statistics databases. The paper is analysing the EU and the Romanian export and import flows in terms of values, quantities and directions. The EU exports and imports of vegetables and fruit have increased since the crisis year (2009). Russia is a major destination for EU agrifood exports: 26% of all EU vegetables exports and 34% din all EU fruit exports went to Russia in 2010-2013. Thus, the embargo hit severely the major exporting countries. Romania is a net importer of vegetables and fruit, and its exports to Russia are rather low, therefore it is not likely to be severely affected by the embargo. The paper is evaluating the expected effects of the Russian embargo upon the EU and Romanian vegetables and fruit international trade and markets.