“Record” 100 thsd tons of Ukrainian soybeans to Romania turned out to be mostly transit

Despite reports of a “record” import of Ukrainian soybeans in the MY 2024/25, most of these volumes did not actually remain on the Romanian market. According to Petar Dimitrov, senior broker and analyst at Agricore, a significant share of the roughly 100 thsd tons of Ukrainian soybeans passed through the port of Constanța in transit to other countries.

The analyst explains that Romania is not experiencing any shortage of soybeans, rapeseed, or sunflower, and the country remains a net exporter of oilseeds. Local processing capacities are underutilized, so the choice of which crops to buy and process depends solely on profitability.

One of the main reasons for the limited real imports is the complex and lengthy licensing procedure introduced in October 2023 under a special regime approved by the European Commission. Most processors consider the process unclear and time-consuming, choosing not to apply for import licenses. As a result, Ukrainian goods entering Romania largely bypass the domestic market.

“Calling these volumes record-breaking is an exaggeration. What we are seeing is merely technical transit through Constanța, not real import growth,” says Dimitrov. He notes that the utilization rate of Romania’s crushing facilities remains below potential, while the soybean market is well-balanced.

Romanian farmers, who protested against Ukrainian imports two years ago, now admit that the market has self-adjusted. “We don’t set prices — we adapt to global ones. When imports are restricted, everyone loses — both farmers and processors,” the expert emphasizes.

He adds that the main challenges for the agricultural sector today lie elsewhere — price volatility, logistics, and climate change. Discussions about import restrictions have moved to the background, but tensions between farmers and traders could quickly return if market conditions deteriorate.

According to Agricore, imports of Ukrainian oilseeds in the MY 2025/26 will depend on the profitability of domestic processing in Ukraine. If Ukrainian companies find it more advantageous to crush soybeans locally, exports of raw beans may decline, reducing transit volumes through Romania.

Tags: Ukraine, export, Romania, soybean, Constanta