The export volume of Moldovan agro-food products increased in the first three months of 2017. According to data published by the National Bureau of Statistics, Moldovan companies shipped fruits and vegetables to foreign destinations worth 58.996 million USD, recording an increase of 24.4% over the same period last year. At the top of the exported agricultural products are seeds and oleaginous fruits, with a sales increase of 59.7%.
The Republic of Moldova supplies agricultural products to more than 70 countries. The main trade partners of Moldova are the EU and the CIS, which together account for 85% of the country's foreign trade destinations. Some of the countries importing Moldovan agro-food products are Romania, Italy, Germany, the UK, Bulgaria, Poland and France.
According to the studies carried out by the MIEPO experts, Moldova's total annual fruit production amounts to approximately 400 thousand tonnes, 60% of which are apples. Other important products are table grapes, with a production of 60 thousand tonnes per year, cherries (20 thousand tonnes), peaches (15 thousand tonnes) and apricots (5 thousand tonnes). The export potential of Moldovan fruits is about 250 thousand tonnes per year, with the main products here being apples, followed by stonefruit and table grapes.
At the same time, the total vegetable production volume amounts to about 400 thousand tonnes, with potatoes reaching 300 thousand tonnes per year. The main vegetable crops with export potential are greenhouse tomatoes, of which Moldova produces about 40 thousand tonnes per year, followed by cucumbers, with 5 thousand tonnes.
Approximately 10% of the vegetables and 50% of the fruits produced in Moldova are processed. Over 90% of the processed fruit and vegetables are exported as juices, jams, canned and dried fruits. The main processed agricultural products exported by Moldova are juices, mainly concentrated apple juice, and dried plums.
With regard to dried fruit, over the last three years, Moldova has produced between 2,000 and 3,500 tonnes of dried fruit (plums, apples, cherries, pears etc.), depending on the conditions of growth and the availability of raw materials. The volume of exported dried fruit accounts for approximately 70% of the total produced. The EU absorbs about 80% of Moldova's dried fruit exports, while CIS countries, especially Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, buy another 20%.
Moldova is also one of the world's largest exporters of nuts, with sales in the US, Mexico and China. The total annual production volume of nuts reaches about 16-18,000 tonnes per year, which are cultivated on an area of about 6,000 hectares.
Moldova's Export and Investment Promotion Organization helps potential buyers to establish trade links with Moldovan agricultural suppliers in international trade missions, trade fairs and exhibitions. The MIEPO team also provides advice on the development of investment and export projects in all sectors of the national economy, as well as full information on accessing new markets (legislation, export conditions, market research, information guides, etc.).
Source: interlic.md
