In 2024–2025, poultry meat remains the only segment of Romania’s meat industry operating under a relatively stable industrial logic, with a high level of integration and reduced dependence on imports. This stability is not the result of an absence of pressure, but rather of tighter control over the production chain.

The underlying mechanism is vertical integration. Poultry production allows control over reproduction, feeding, and growth cycles, thereby reducing raw material volatility. Costs are concentrated mainly in feed, energy, and biosecurity, yet they can be anticipated and optimized more efficiently compared to other species. This level of control reduces the risk of disruption and enables more predictable industrial planning.

Data published by Eurostat show that Romania remains among the leading poultry meat producers in Central and Eastern Europe, with a self-sufficiency rate exceeding 100% in 2024. Intra-EU exports have remained stable. According to FAO, the poultry sector records the best feed-to-meat conversion efficiency among commercially relevant species, which limits cost pressure over the medium term.

The implication for the industry is clear. In the absence of major animal health shocks, poultry meat remains the segment with the highest economic and operational stability within Romania’s meat industry, offering a reference model for the organization and efficiency of other sectors.

(Photo: Freepik)