In 2024, amid a backdrop of declining Moldovan exports, fruit exports increased for the second consecutive year. Although the agricultural harvest was small last year, the increase in monetary volume was driven by higher fruit export prices. Veaceslav Ionita, an expert from the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives "Viitorul", authored the report. He believes that the Republic of Moldova has the potential to double its fruit exports worldwide, according to IPN.
Ionita notes, "As far as fruit exports are concerned, two positive things have happened: the structure of exported fruit has been diversified, we don't have a dominant fruit exporter, and the export market has been diversified, we don't have a country where fruit exports dominate."
Analyzing the top five most exported fruits from the Republic of Moldova, Ionita observed that apples, which had a 9.2% share in 2015, reached 27% in 2024. Grapes increased from 8.6% in 2015 to 21.6% in 2024, while plums rose from 2.7% to 16% over the same period.
In 2024, Romania was the primary destination for Moldovan fruit exports, receiving 23.5% of the total. Other significant markets included the Russian Federation (22.9%), Germany (8.8%), Poland (8.1%), and Belarus (5.4%). The top ten markets accounted for nearly 80% of exports.
Ionita predicts a decline in fruit exports in the first half of 2025 due to the poor fruit set in 2024. However, he attributes the export growth to favorable prices, modern orchards, market diversification, and enhanced packaging.
Source: IPN
