CECAEN Rev 3
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Sections Correlation Guide About the Project Contact
Group 011

Growing of tobacco

This category includes the cultivation of tobacco, from planting to harvesting and drying. It does not include processing into finished products or marketing thereof.

Included Activities & Applicability

  • ✅ Growing of tobacco for the production of tobacco leaves Harvesting
  • ✅ drying and initial conditioning of tobacco

Excluded Activities & Restrictions

  • ❌ Processing of tobacco into finished products (cigarettes
  • ❌ cigars etc.) - falls under the tobacco processing industry Marketing of unprocessed or processed tobacco (trade activity)

Subordinate Structure

0111 Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds
→
0112 Rice farming
→
0113 Growing of vegetables and melons, roots and tubers
→
0114 Growing of sugar cane
→
0115 Tobacco growing
→
0116 Growing of plants for textile fibers
→
0119 Growing of other non-perennial crops
→

Detailed Analysis & Commercial Insights

Tobacco Growing in Romania: A Niche Agricultural Sector

Tobacco cultivation is a traditional agricultural activity in Romania, concentrated mainly in areas with favorable climates in Moldova and Muntenia. In recent years, this niche has undergone a significant transformation, influenced by increasingly strict European regulations on tobacco production and consumption, as well as changing market demand. From a macroeconomic perspective, tobacco cultivation contributes to agricultural income and the trade balance through exports, although cultivated areas have progressively decreased due to international competition and anti-smoking policies.

Entrepreneurs in this field face multiple challenges. On the one hand, they must comply with strict quality and traceability standards imposed by cigarette manufacturers, and on the other hand, price fluctuations and high labor and input costs (fertilizers, pesticides) reduce profit margins. At the same time, European Funds offer limited support for this sector, and access to financing is difficult due to associated risks. However, for farmers who manage to specialize and invest in modern drying and sorting technologies, tobacco cultivation remains an important source of income, especially in areas without viable agricultural alternatives.

Looking ahead, the sector faces constant pressures to diversify, and some producers are beginning to explore alternative crops such as industrial hemp or aromatic plants. Nevertheless, tobacco remains a niche crop with a largely stable market dictated by large processors. Adaptability and efficient resource management are key to success for entrepreneurs in this sector.