Romania imported watermelons worth EUR 7.3 million in 2016, 280 times more than it exported, according to Eurostat data cited by local Ziarul Financiar.

The main countries from which Romania imported melons were Greece, the Netherlands, Germany, and Turkey, with Greece covering 40% of the total value of imports.

Romania’s exports only amounted to EUR 26,000 last year. The country exported to less than ten countries.

Romania produced 420,000 tons of watermelons in 2016. The production has been steadily decreasing since 2013, and the trend will continue this year due to late spring frosts. Even under these conditions, producers of watermelon continue to invest in this crop that can generate profits of up to RON 20,000 (EUR 4,380) per hectare.

The value of Romania's watermelon production amounts to about EUR 100 million.

editor@romania-insider.com