Raw tobacco production in Romania has become more and more irrelevant, with currently only 573 hectares are cultivated with tobacco, a massive decrease in comparison with early 2000 levels, when more than 11,000 hectares were cultivated with tobacco. On the other hand, after the change of regime and transition to a market economy, substantial investment in cigarettes manufacturing occurred and as a consequence Romania is now a net importer of raw tobacco but a large exporter of manufactured cigarettes. Currently Romania is the second largest cigarette producer from within the EU and almost 66% of cigarette production is destined for exports. Production of cigarettes is a highly capital intensive activity and thus a relatively low number of employees are directly involved in tobacco products manufacturing - around 2,500 employees in 2021.
Country report Romania - download here