The Romanian Bakery Industry Between Market Fragmentation During 2019–2024

Abstract

The Romanian bakery industry represents one of the most important sectors within the national food industry, both through its economic contribution and its role in ensuring food consumption stability. The aim of this paper is to analyze the structural and economic evolution of the Romanian bakery industry during the period 2019–2024, emphasizing the relationship between industrial performance, agricultural raw materials, market fragmentation, and import dependence. The study is based on a descriptive and comparative analysis of secondary statistical data provided by the National Institute of Statistics, Statista, and sectoral reports. The results indicate that the bakery industry maintains a strategic position within the Romanian agri-food system, accounting for over half of the active entities in the food industry and approximately 15% of total sold industrial production. The paper highlights the interdependence between agricultural production and food processing activities and underlines the necessity of improving competitiveness, supply chain resilience, and sustainable development strategies within the Romanian bakery industry.