In June 2025, Moldova ranked fourth in the world in terms of cherry exports, with $3.1 million and a market share of 3.5% - Veaceslav Ionita
As noted by the economic policy expert at the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDIS) Viitorul, half of these cherry volumes were delivered to Poland at the most favorable price for Moldovan cherries in history. “In June, revenue from cherry production almost doubled compared to 2024, thanks in part to a nearly twofold increase in the external price,” said Veaceslav Ionita. According to data analyzed by experts, in June of this year, Moldova exported $3.1 million worth of cherries, compared to $2.3 million in 2023 and $2.3 million in 2024. Based on data for the last three years, it has been established that 0.6% of cherry production is exported in May, 50% in June, 45.6% in July, and 3.9% in August. "In 2020, Moldova ranked 16th in the world in cherry exports with a market share of 1.2%. In 2024, it ranked 8th in the world. In June of this year, it ranked 4th. In 2025, Moldova entered the top 5 largest cherry exporters, with a market share of 3.5%. Our market share has grown almost threefold, and our position in the ranking of world exporters has grown fourfold," said Veaceslav Ionita. According to him, while in 2020, 98.2% of Moldovan cherries were exported to CIS countries and only 1.8% to EU countries, in 2025, the share of exports to the CIS fell to 18%, while that to the EU increased to 72.5%. The rest ended up in markets outside the EU and the CIS. "Before the start of Russia's war against Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova exported cherries to a maximum of four countries. Most of them — 95% — went to the Russian Federation. A small amount went to Belarus, sometimes to Romania, and sometimes to Ukraine. After the war began, Moldovan cherry exports to the Russian Federation became difficult, and farmers began to diversify their markets. In 2023, cherries were exported to nine countries, in 2024 to ten countries, and in June 2025, Moldovan cherries were supplied to 13 countries," the expert said. The economist claims that everything that happened this year with the growth of Moldovan cherry exports is due exclusively to the favorable prices offered by some EU countries, especially Poland, which reformatted the market for cherry exports from Moldova. "The rules of the game have changed fundamentally. Between 2022 and 2024, almost 63% of cherries were exported to Russia, 15.5% to Romania, 12.5% to Kazakhstan, 2.8% to Poland, and 2% to Latvia. In 2025, about 33.6% was exported to Poland, 31.4% to Romania, 16.2% to Russia, 9.3% to Serbia, and 2.6% to Slovakia. This year, Poland became the driving force behind cherry exports from Moldova, offering the best price," said Veaceslav Ionita. He claims that in June this year, Poland imported 45.8% of cherries from Moldova at a price of $2/kg. Another 25% was imported from Hungary, 13.3% from Serbia, 9.5% from Uzbekistan, and 3.3% from Turkey. “There was a demand for cherries in Poland. Moldovan farmers noticed this and took advantage of it. This year, in just one month, the largest volume of cherry exports in Moldova's history was recorded,” emphasized Veaceslav Ionita. According to him, in Moldova in 1995-1999, the area of fruit-bearing cherry orchards was about 4,700 hectares, by 2005 it had decreased to 3,000 hectares, and in 2024 it reached 4,500 hectares. The harvest of cherry orchards in Moldova in 1995-1999 was 10.7 thousand tons, in 2005-2009 - 15.8 thousand tons; in 2016 – 4,100 tons; in 2020 – 9,700 tons; in 2024 – 9,800 tons. "The miracle of 2025, which led to a sharp increase in cherry exports, is the price. While in 2015 the average export price of cherries from Moldova was $0.76/kg, in 2016 it was $0.35/kg, and in June 2025 it reached $1.59/kg. This is almost double the average for the last three years," said Veaceslav Ionita. The economist claims that in 2015, Moldova harvested 6,000 tons of cherries, of which 1,500 tons were exported and 4,500 tons were consumed locally. In 2020, 9,700 tons were harvested, of which 1,800 tons were exported and 7,900 tons remained for local consumption. It is estimated that in 2025, 9,800 tons will be harvested, of which 4,000 tons will be exported and 5,800 tons will be destined for local consumption. This is the highest figure in the country's history. It is expected that in 2025, the historical share of exports will be 40% compared to the average of 25%. " Farmers with cherry orchards earned almost 55 million lei from exports and local sales in 2015, 106.1 million lei in 2020, and are likely to earn 224.2 million lei in 2025, compared to 122.6 million lei in 2015. In 2025, they are likely to earn 224.2 million lei, compared to 122.6 million lei in 2024. The average income from cherry orchards in 2015 was 17,900 lei/ha, in 2020 - 27,900 lei/ha, and in 2025, it is likely to be 46,700 lei/ha," the economist summed up. //26.09.2025 – InfoMarket.
