The beginning of 2026 brings the first signs of financial distress in the agricultural sector of eastern Romania, following the opening of insolvency proceedings involving companies with significant turnover in the cereals and agricultural inputs markets.

The Agricultorul Group, based in Bacău, has initiated insolvency filings through several legal entities at the Bacău Tribunal. Alongside the main company, Panimon and Agrotehnogrup have also submitted similar applications. The group is active in cereal trading, agricultural raw material distribution, and processing.

According to financial data for 2024, the three companies together recorded a cumulative turnover exceeding RON 830 million, placing them among the key regional players in Moldovan agriculture. Agricultorul played a significant role in crop collection and farmer supply, also functioning as an informal financial intermediary through the commercial payment terms it offered. To date, the group’s representatives have not publicly communicated the specific reasons behind the financial difficulties.

At the same time, Plantagro-Com, based in Vaslui, has initiated procedures to convene creditors, a stage often associated with restructuring or insolvency situations. Founded in 2001, the company operates in cereal trading, agricultural input supply, and crop production.

In 2024, Plantagro-Com reported a turnover of approximately RON 381 million, ranking as the second-largest company in Vaslui County after Vanbet, when measured by revenue. The scale of its operations places it among the relevant players in the regional agricultural supply chain.

Information regarding these developments was initially reported by Ziarul Financiar. The near-simultaneous emergence of multiple cases of financial distress reflects accumulated pressures within the sector, including volatility in cereal prices, high input costs, rising interest rates, and liquidity constraints.

The outcome of these proceedings will affect not only the companies involved, but also farmers, suppliers, and the regional cereals market, where these firms played an important role in collection, distribution, and operational financing.

(Photo: Freepik)