Exports of Moldovan fruit in monetary terms have been growing steadily since 2018, reaching a historic high of $282.4 million in 2024 - IDIS Viitorul
This was reported by Veaceslav Ionita, an economic policy expert at the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives. He noted that in 2024, against the backdrop of a decline in Moldovan exports, fruit shipments grew for the second year in a row. Although the agricultural harvest in 2024 was small, the growth in monetary terms was due to fruit exports at higher prices compared to previous years. “As for fruit exports, there were two positive developments: the structure of fruit exports became more diversified, we do not have any fruits that dominate exports, and the export market became more diversified, we do not have any countries where fruit exports dominate,” said Veaceslav Ionita. He reported that fruits and vegetables ranked fifth among the top 10 goods exported by Moldova in 2024, with a share of 8.2%. The top four positions were occupied by: machinery, equipment, and electrical appliances – 19.6%; grains and seeds – 18.4%; food products – 14.2%; and textiles – 8.8%. “Exports of fruits and vegetables amounted to $292.4 million in monetary terms, and fruit and vegetable products amounted to $133.5 million. This industry has untapped potential relative to its current state,” said Veaceslav Ionita. Analyzing the production of fruits, nuts and berries, the expert reported that 858 thousand tons were collected in 1981-1985, 1 million 044 thousand tons in 1986-1990, 868 thousand tons in 1991-1995, 464 thousand tons in 1996-2000, 433 thousand tons in 2001-2005, 328 thousand tons in 2006-2010, in 2011-2015 – 465 thousand tons, in 2018 – 943 thousand tons (data for 2019 are not provided), in 2020 – 687 thousand tons, in 2021 – 915 thousand tons, in 2022 – 680 thousand tons, in 2023 – 796 thousand tons, in 2024 – 621 thousand tons. “The production of fruits, nuts and berries in 2024 turned out to be the lowest in the last 8 years, while in terms of exports we reached a historical maximum,” the expert noted. According to Veaceslav Ionita, fruit exports in 1994 amounted to $55.6 million. In 1999, they decreased to $20.1 million. In 2004, they increased up to $64.7 million; in 2007 – to $92.9 million; in 2008, they amounted to $85.4 million; in 2013 – $204 million; in 2016 – $155.8 million; in 2017 – $221.6 million; in 2018 – $207.6 million; in 2023 – $226.1 million; in 2024 – $282.4 million. “Since 2018, Moldova has demonstrated a constant growth in the volume of fruit exports. "In 2024, its historical maximum was reached," said Veaceslav Ionita. Speaking about the production, export and local consumption of fruits, the economist reported that in 2015, production amounted to 486 thousand tons, of which 228 thousand tons were exported, and 258 thousand tons were consumed and processed locally. In 2018, 894 thousand tons were produced, including 357 thousand tons exported, and 537 thousand tons consumed and processed locally. In 2020, production amounted to 665 thousand tons, of which 322 thousand tons were exported, and 343 thousand tons - for domestic consumption and processing. In 2021, production amounted to 867 thousand tons, of which 351 thousand tons were exported and 525 thousand tons were used for domestic consumption and processing. In 2022, production amounted to 651 thousand tons, exports - 328 thousand tons, and domestic consumption and processing - 324 thousand tons; 2023 - 762 thousand tons (exports - 307 thousand tons, domestic consumption and processing 455 thousand tons); 2024 - 594 thousand tons (exports - 280 thousand tons, domestic consumption and fruit processing - 314 thousand tons). “2024 was characterized by a sharp decline in production, although we still had a large volume of exports. We consumed less domestically, but exported more. Exports decreased, but local consumption decreased the most. “Exports in 2024 were, in particular, exports of the 2023 harvest,” the economist said. While speaking about the average export price of fruits from Moldova, the economic analyst specified that in 2015 it was $0.85/kg; in 2017 – $0.56/kg; in 2020 – $0.7/kg; in 2021 – $0.66/kg; in 2022 – $0.76/kg; in 2024 – $1.01/kg. "Until 2015, walnuts dominated Moldovan exports and they had a very good price. After that, walnuts lost their position and apples dominated, but they were cheaper than walnuts. On average, Moldovan fruits became cheaper when exported. We exported more, but cheaper. Over the past 3 years, although exports are declining, export prices are growing, because the structure of exported fruits has changed. Exports of more expensive products have increased, but prices in general have also increased," the economic analyst said. While speaking about the average export price in 2024, the expert noted that the price of walnuts was $4.61/kg; dried/frozen fruits - $1.82/kg; blackberries - $1.76/kg; cherries - $1.35/kg; grapes - $1.17/kg; peaches - $0.91/kg; cherries - $0.85/kg; plums - $0.84/kg; apricots - $0.83/kg; pears - $0.74/kg; apples - $0.64/kg; quince - $0.43/kg. "In 2024, compared to 2023, the price of plums increased the most - by more than 45%. Next come berries - by 33%, nuts - by 25%, grapes - by 23%, apples and quince - by 18%, peaches and pears - by 17.7% and 17.6%, cherries - by 5.1%, apricots - by 1.6%, and cherries fell in price by 9.5%. In terms of volume, we did not export much, the harvest was small, but due to the rise in prices, we have a favorable situation for fruit exports," the expert said. According to Veaceslav Ionita, in 2024, apple exports accounted for 27% of total fruit exports; grapes – 21.6%; plums – 16%; nuts – 15%; dried fruits – 8%; cherries – 5%; apricots – 3.5%; berries – 1.4%; frozen fruits – 1.3%; cherries – almost 1%; other fruits – 1.1%. While analyzing the dynamics of the 5 most exported fruits from Moldova, the economist noted that in 2015, the share of apples was 9.2%, and in 2024 - 27%. Grapes in 2015 accounted for 8.6%, and in 2024 - 21.6%. Plums, up from 2.7% in 2015, reached 16% in 2024. Walnuts – their share in 2015 was 52%, while in 2024 it was 15%. Dried fruits – their share in 2015 was 4%, while in 2024 it was 8%. “Our market is balanced; we do not have any product that would dominate our fruit exports. We have quite a good diversification of exported fruits,” the economist noted. When compiling a list of countries to which fruits were exported from Moldova in 2024, the economic analyst stated that 23.5% was exported to Romania, 22.9% to Russia, Germany – 8.8%; Poland – 8.1%; Belarus – 5.4%; the Netherlands – 3.2%; France – 2.7%; Ukraine – 2.5%; Switzerland – 1.8%; and 51 other countries – 21.1%. “Romania became the number one export market for Moldovan fruit in 2024. The ten largest markets account for almost 80% of our exports,” the economist noted. According to him, data for 2024 show that Romania's share in the total volume of Moldovan fruit exports was 0.7% in 2010 and 23.5% in 2024. Russia's share decreased from 55.8% in 2010 to 23% in 2024. Germany's share increased from 3% in 2010 to 8.8% in 2024, and Poland's share increased from 0.3% in 2010 to 8% in 2024. At the same time, Belarus' share decreased from 5.8% in 2010 to 5.4% in 2024. “Moldova can increase its fruit export potential in the world by at least two times. Everything that happened after the crises we experienced, the embargo imposed by Russia in 2014, the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine in 2022, created two positive aspects for Moldova: the structure of fruit exports has been diversified, we do not have any fruits that dominate fruit exports, and the export market has been diversified, we do not have any countries where fruit exports can dominate. 2024 was a positive year. Unfortunately, based on the results of the first half of 2025, we will have to report a decline in fruit exports caused by the poor harvest in 2024. However, in 2024, against the backdrop of good prices, modern orchards, diversification of markets and types of exported fruits, and attractive packaging, fruit exports increased,” concluded Veaceslav Ionita. // 02.05.2025 – InfoMarket.
