Moldova's economy grew by 5.2% in the third quarter, but this growth reflects a recovery from the recession rather than the beginning of sustainable growth - Veaceslav Ioniță
This is how the economic expert commented on the GDP growth data for the third quarter of this year, released by the National Bureau of Statistics. According to him, growth appears robust after a series of negative economic signals, but the high dynamics are explained by a low base: in the third quarter of 2024, GDP contracted by 1.9%, marking the start of the third economic recession in the last five years. "Unlike 2021, when sharp growth was driven by a record recovery in agriculture after the 2020 collapse, the current growth is moderate and is more related to a partial correction following the recession," notes Veaceslav Ioniță. He added that the main driver of growth in 2025 was the agricultural sector, which contributed 2.1 percentage points to overall GDP growth after declining in 2024. Exports also began to grow for the first time in almost three years, but primarily due to agricultural raw materials. This trend, according to the expert, points to the continuing structural vulnerability of the economy, which remains overly dependent on climate conditions and unprocessed agricultural raw materials. At the same time, a positive factor is the increase in gross capital formation by approximately 20%. The growth in the number of workers in the construction sector – to its highest levels in the last 10-20 years – confirms the intensification of investment in both housing and engineering projects. The economist emphasizes that despite the improvement in macroeconomic indicators, Moldova has not yet returned to the 2021 GDP level and remains the only country among the countries neighboring war-torn Ukraine that has not reached its pre-war GDP level. According to Veaceslav Ioniță, "moderate optimism" is necessary: 5.2% growth is good news, but it signifies a recovery from the recession, not a structural change in the economy. “We can rejoice, but it’s too early to relax,” the expert said.// 16.12.2025 — InfoMarket
