It is now exporting to the major markets in Western Europe, but the Romanian entrepreneur also hopes to export to China, after the relevant authorities cleared its products for sale in that country. The agreement came shortly after a Chinese group acquired US-based Smithfield, the largest pork producer in the world, which also has operations in Romania.
“The Chinese market has opened. It’s a good thing for us, Romanian producers, too, not only for Smithfield. If we get there, we’ll get access to funding from Chinese banks. There will be room for us there because they need food,” says Neculai Apostol, who runs a group whose revenue should reach EUR40 million this year.
Kosarom is currently conducting a EUR15 million investment in upgrading its swine farm Suinprod in Roman (eastern Romania) completed two years ago.
Kosarom raises and processes 80,000 pigs a year and is one of the largest Romanian-owned businesses in its industry.
Romania’s exports of pork and meats amounted to EUR62.7 million in the first half of 2013, up 40% on the same time last year. The local economy, however, remains a net importer of pork with a deficit of EUR81.3 million in the first six months, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)