InfoMarket Morning Brief | 13.08.2026

Macroeconomics

• In H1 2026, revenue from payroll taxes rose by 10.40% to 25.50 billion lei. Companies covered by voluntary compliance measures declared payroll obligations of 524.50 million lei (+29.50%), while audits resulted in an additional 16.20 million lei in taxes, contributions, late-payment penalties and fines.

Energy and Resources

• State-owned Moldelectrica will be transformed into a joint-stock company with 100.00% state ownership; grids and substations will remain in public ownership. The reorganization must be completed within a maximum of 24 months and ensure the transmission system operator's functional and organizational independence in line with commitments to the Energy Community.

• Natural gas imports in H1 2026 rose by 7.00% to 597.10 million cubic meters, while supplies to end users increased by 13.30% to 582.04 million cubic meters. Energocom accounted for 82.50% of imports, while the wholesale market is expanding with new suppliers and traders.

• As of August 12, Energocom had purchased 10,297.00 MWh of electricity and fully met demand: 69.43% of the volume came from bilateral import contracts and 26.08% from local renewable energy sources. The company notes rising prices on external markets, especially during peak hours.

External Economy and Trade

• From August 10 through the end of 2026, Moldova introduced a 50.00% discount on rail transit of Ukrainian cargo. Ukraine plans to transport up to 6.00 million metric tons via regional routes during the 2026 agricultural year, while Moldova aims to attract about 10.00% of this volume; the potential revenue opportunity for Moldovan Railways is estimated at several million euros.

Government Regulation

• The Ministry of Finance submitted the draft tax policy for 2027 to IMF experts for review; public consultations continue until August 21. One of the disputed provisions is the proposed increase in VAT on grains from 8.00% to 12.00% to narrow the gap with taxation of processed products, where the rate can reach 20.00%.

• The government approved a major overhaul of the Industrial Parks Act: defense industry projects will be permitted, while innovative micro- and small enterprises will be able to lease premises under a simplified procedure for up to six months. Administrative expenses for infrastructure financed from the state budget will be capped at 5.00%.

• The postal sector is being brought into line with EU rules: after Moldova joins the EU, Poșta Moldovei's losses from providing the universal service in rural areas will be compensated equally from the state budget and contributions from private operators with annual turnover of at least 10.00 million lei. In 2025, the market grew by 47.40% to 940.60 million lei, while Poșta Moldovei's share of market revenue fell from 44.00% to 27.90%.

Investment and Projects

• The draft new Investment Law introduces a regime for strategic projects: investments of at least EUR 25.00 million may receive land-use incentives, while projects of at least EUR 50.00 million will be able to conclude investment agreements with the government. In 2025, investment in the economy reached 41.40 billion lei (+17.60%), while foreign direct investment attracted was about EUR 409.00 million.

• Moldova plans to allocate 597.60 million lei to water supply and sewerage development in 2026–2030. By 2030, the authorities aim to provide at least 95.00% of the population with access to safe water sources and connect at least 65.00% to public sewerage services; in 2024, the respective figures were 67.60% and 33.40%.

• Construction of the Ungheni–Zagaranca road bridge across the Prut is 55.00% complete. It is expected to connect the road networks of Moldova and Romania and become the first of five new bridges planned by 2030.

Banking and Finance

• The limit for a number of foreign exchange transactions by residents without NBM authorization is proposed to increase from EUR 10.00 thousand to EUR 100.00 thousand, and from January 1, 2028 to EUR 250.00 thousand. The changes cover purchases of foreign financial instruments, loans, guarantees and certain foreign bank accounts and are part of the phased liberalization of capital movements.

• In less than a year since joining SEPA, Moldovan citizens and companies have saved more than EUR 13.00 million on cross-border payments in euros, according to the NBM.

• The government approved EU-aligned rules for settlements involving financial instruments: exchange-traded transactions must be settled no later than the second business day, delays will trigger daily monetary fines, and systematic failures may lead to suspension of a participant's activities.

Industry

• German company Erich Jaeger will expand its production facility in the "Valkaneș" Free Economic Zone by another 2,000.00 sq. m by the end of 2026. Since 2024, the company has operated at a 4,200.00 sq. m facility and created 130 jobs, producing wiring harnesses, connectors and electronics for the automotive industry and other sectors.

Agriculture

• Direct damage from extreme weather events in 2010–2024 exceeded 23.00 billion lei, with about 70.00% of losses linked to drought; in 2024 alone, damage was estimated at 4.70 billion lei, or about 1.50% of GDP. The Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program for 2026–2030 provides 129.30 million lei, including 97.00 million lei for hydrometeorological infrastructure.

Business and Companies

• FinComBank and Moldindconbank became the first banks to accept digital documents from EVO: customers can verify their identity via a QR code without presenting a physical document or manually copying data. Digital documents in EVO are legally equivalent to physical documents.

Social Economy

• At the beginning of 2026, Moldova had 517.30 thousand young people aged 14–34, about 22.00% of the population and 2.50% fewer than a year earlier. In 2025, 59.90% of young people aged 15–34 were outside the labor force, the NEET rate reached 27.90%, and unemployment was 5.90% versus the national average of 3.80%.

Day in Figures

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• On August 13 at 16:00, the final presentation of the Masterplan Moldova HiTech Park is scheduled; a livestream has been announced on Privesc.eu.

• August 13 is the deadline for submitting proposals to the NBM on draft amendments to regulations on credit transfers and direct debits.

• On August 13, a three-day free training program for aspiring entrepreneurs from Comrat, Leova, Cantemir, Ceadîr-Lunga and Taraclia, organized by the Ministry of Finance together with the State Tax Service and Customs Service, concludes.

• On August 13, as part of "Diaspora Days," CNAM will hold a meeting at 10:00 on the mandatory health insurance system, while the National Tourism Office will hold a meeting at 13:00 on priorities and initiatives for 2026–2027.