BUCHAREST, ROMANIA — Following a severe drought Romania’s grain production is expected to grow by 28% in the 2021-22 marketing year based on recent rainfall improving soil moisture, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Cold temperatures and frequent rains delayed spring planting, but a larger harvest prospect is expected to propel Romania forward as a major international grain exporter.

The USDA forecasts Romania’s 2021-22 marketing year production to total 9.1 million tonnes, a rebound of 41% compared to the previous marketing year. The jump in production is expected to boost the country’s wheat exports to about six million tonnes compared to an eight-year low of four million tonnes in the previous marketing year.

Romanian corn production is anticipated to increase to 13 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year compared to a 25% harvest decline in the 2020-21 marketing year. Similar to wheat, the increase in corn production pushed the USDA corn export estimate to be 5.7 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year.

Despite a lowered planting forecast, Romania’s barley production is expected to be 1.55 million tonnes compared to 1.2 million tonnes harvested in the 2020-21 marketing year. The USDA projects the country’s barley exports to increase 4% to about 1.3 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year.