In late April and early May 2025, wholesale prices for most apple varieties in Moldova rose by 10–15%, reaching an average of 12 MDL/kg (approximately €0.61/kg). In retail supermarket chains, prices range between 15 and 18 MDL/kg (around €0.76–€0.91/kg), though consumers describe the fruit quality as average or below. According to EastFruit price monitoring, current apple prices are at their highest for this time of year in the past five years. In May 2024, wholesale prices were almost twice as low.
Market operators attribute the price increase to seasonal factors, primarily due to rapidly declining stock levels. Most apples of export quality were sold out to foreign buyers by mid-April. Only limited volumes of lower-grade fruit remain for the domestic market. With the fruit season starting later than usual and stone fruit and berry plantations damaged by spring frosts, high domestic demand for apples is expected. Import of more expensive but higher-quality apples is also possible in late spring or early summer.
Meanwhile, Moldova exported just over 13,000 tonnes of apples in April 2025, according to Moldova Fruct, citing data from MAIA and the Customs Service. This is significantly lower than both March 2025 (over 18,000 tonnes) and April 2024 (around 20,000 tonnes). The association notes that the April–June period typically marks the end of the marketing year for the previous year's crop, so a seasonal export slowdown is normal.
The lower export volume also reflects a smaller 2024 harvest, around 440,000 tonnes. As a result, fewer apples of export quality remain available for late spring and early summer sales. From April 1, 2024, to May 1, 2025, Moldova exported about 90,000 tonnes of apples from the 2024 harvest.
Source: logos-pres.md
