Romania has harvested 9 million tons of wheat this year, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday, a fifth lower than the record harvest of last year.
Agriculture Minister Petre Daea said a drought and higher production costs led to the fall, down from a record 11.3 million tons in 2021.
He predicted that this year’s harvest would be 18% less than the previous year but Romania would still be able to export the surplus.
Romania is among the largest grain exporters in the EU, selling its crop to Middle East, mainly Egypt.
It sends exports through its Black Sea port of Constanta, which Ukraine has been using as an alternative route since Russia’s invasion.
The ministry also said farmers were currently harvesting sunflower and maize in twenty counties.
High temperatures and prolonged drought have hit crops, and more than 420,000 hectares, out of about 7 million hectares of grain and oil-producing crops have been damaged.
Romania has enough wheat for domestic use and exports despite drought-agriculture minister
