E-Malt.com News article: Romania: Beer sector supports Romanian agriculture in 78% of the country's counties

Romanian brewers organised an event on October 27 focusing on the impact of the beer sector on Romanian agriculture, within the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, the Food Industry and Specific Services of the Chamber of Deputies. The aim was to promote partnerships between local farmers, malt processors and breweries, as well as to highlight the potential of land cultivated with brewing barley and to identify the legislative solutions needed to strengthen the domestic supply chain, the Business Review reported.

During the event, industry representatives highlighted the deeply national character of beer, with over 95.5% of domestic consumption being met by domestic production. The beer sector is a major buyer for Romanian agriculture, with 80 per cent of the ingredients used (brewing barley and hops) coming directly from local crops, and it provides 9,000 jobs in agriculture out of a total of 57,800 jobs generated across the entire value chain of the beer sector. Nationwide, malting barley is grown in 32 counties, whilst hops are grown in 3 counties.

“The event organised by Berarii României has confirmed to us that the beer sector is a model to follow in terms of an integrated value chain, from grain to the consumer’s table. The fact that a significant proportion of the raw materials used in breweries come from Romanian farmers demonstrates that this sector directly supports national agriculture and provides jobs for more than 9,000 people in rural areas across Romania. The Committee on Agriculture strongly supports the partnership between farmers, processors and breweries. This ecosystem must be supported through appropriate legislative and funding measures, ranging from encouraging the cultivation of malting barley and hops to ensuring a predictable tax framework that keeps added value and jobs here, in Romania,” said Ionel Ciunt, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, the Food Industry and Specific Services.

In 2025, the beer market reached an all-time low of 14.4 million hectolitres, and preliminary figures for 2026 suggest that this downward trend is set to continue, with direct implications for local production. This market decline, caused mainly by unsustainable increases in excise duty over the last 18 months, is also having an impact on Romanian agriculture and on the jobs generated by the beer sector across the entire value chain.

“Beer production in Romania begins in our country’s fields. This event confirms the strategic importance of the partnership between the farmer who grows the barley, the malting plant that processes it, and the brewery that produces the beer. To retain added value in Romania and support thousands of families in rural areas, we need fiscal predictability, as well as a strong and protected agricultural supply chain,” said Constantin Bratu, Managing Director of Berarii României.

78% of Romania’s counties have barley crops grown specifically for local beer production

At the national level, barley cultivation covers a total area of approximately 580,000 hectares, of which two-row barley (autumn and spring varieties), suitable for beer production, accounts for approximately 88,000 hectares. This extensive area of specialised crops reflects a close and long-standing partnership between brewers, processors and the farmers who produce raw materials for beer production nationwide. To ensure the quality of the raw material ‘from grain to glass’, processors provide direct support to local agriculture. This direct investment guarantees that Romanian beer remains a product deeply rooted in the country’s resources and the labour of its fields.

“Barley processing in Romania is the essential link that transforms our farmers’ work in the fields into malt, the high-quality raw material required by breweries. Through our direct partnerships and the tripartite contracting system (Farmer – Malting Plant – Brewery), we offer approximately 600 malting barley growers in Romania with financial predictability and the assurance that their entire harvest, produced in accordance with contractual specifications, will be purchased. Our ongoing investment in modern processing technologies and in the technical and financial support provided to farmers demonstrates our long-term commitment to supporting Romanian agriculture. We offer vouchers covering approximately 45 per cent of the cost of seeds purchased by farmers, with the aim of stimulating local malting barley production and remaining competitive. To maintain this valuable local production and prevent dependence on imports of malt or beer, we need a stable legislative and fiscal framework that protects the entire domestic value chain,” said Ionuț Oprea, Managing Director of Soufflet Malt.

A key focus of the discussions was the integrated tripartite partnership model between farmers, processors and breweries, which acts as a driving force for the development of Romanian agriculture. Through direct contracting arranged before sowing, Romanian farmers benefit from guaranteed minimum prices and the full purchase of their barley harvest that meets technical standards. This arrangement provides farmers with financial stability, the possibility of securing lines of credit and opportunities for development.

As far as hops are concerned, cultivation is limited and highly specialised. There are four producers, spread across three counties in the country: Alba, Sibiu and Mureș, covering approximately 150 hectares. This type of crop requires specific growing conditions, both in terms of climate and infrastructure. Harvesting is carried out manually, and Romania faces challenges when it comes to securing the necessary labour in this sector.

Looking to the future, the beer sector reaffirms its commitment to remaining a pillar of stability and development for the national economy. The expansion of agricultural land dedicated to brewing barley and ongoing investment in sustainable development demonstrate a mature industry, ready to turn challenges into opportunities. Through open dialogue with the authorities and by ensuring long-term predictability, Romanian beer will continue to be a successful economic driver and a model of sustainability, offering Romanians a top-quality product born of cooperation, passion and local resources.


27 October, 2026