InfoMarket Morning Brief | 20.08.2026

Macroeconomics

• Moldova's external public debt stood at $4.86 billion as of July 31, increasing by $45.34 million, or 0.90%, in January-July. New external loans over the 7 months totaled $248.48 million, while principal repayments amounted to $116.53 million.

Energy and Resources

• The government expects gas rates to rise after exchange prices increased from about 52 to 64 euros/MWh; ANRE plans to consider on August 21 a 40.70% increase in the rate for residential consumers - to 18.79 lei per cubic meter excluding VAT. The Cabinet intends to partially compensate the most vulnerable consumers for the increase.

• As of August 19, Energocom purchased 10,064 MWh and fully covered demand: 75.33% of the volume came from bilateral import contracts and 22.30% from local renewable energy sources. The company warns that expensive purchases during peak hours from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. will increase tariff pressure.

• Energocom Trading contracted about 180.50 million cubic meters of gas for Termoelectrica for January-April 2027; together with previously signed contracts, supplies to its largest customer are secured for the entire heating period from October 2026 through April 2027.

External Economy and Trade

• Moldova's exports to Turkey in the first half of the year rose by 25.90% to 223.10 million euros, while imports fell by 5.40% to 324.20 million euros. The bilateral trade deficit decreased by 38.90% to 101.10 million euros.

Government Regulation

• The government is establishing a permanent commission on antidumping, countervailing and safeguard measures: to initiate an investigation, applicants must represent at least 25.00% of national production, and a decision to open an investigation must be made within a maximum of 45 days. The mechanism is aimed at protecting the domestic market against dumping, foreign subsidies and sharp increases in imports.

• A national list of prohibited and restricted chemicals based on REACH principles has been approved. The new restrictions will affect, among others, the chemical industry, plastics, textiles, footwear, electronics, automobiles, furniture and construction materials, and will require the replacement of certain hazardous substances and adaptation of supply chains.

International Relations

• The World Bank Group's active portfolio in Moldova includes 14 operations totaling 735.40 million euros; over the entire period of cooperation, more than 45 operations worth approximately 1.60 billion euros have been implemented. The Bank has begun preparing a new Partnership Framework for the period after 2023-2027.

Investment and Projects

• The budget of the state investment aid scheme will be increased from 2 to 4 billion lei: 1 billion lei in grants and 3 billion lei in partial income tax exemptions. Twenty-eight projects involving about 2.53 billion lei in investment and 1,572 new jobs have already been approved; the maximum aid per project has been reduced to 400 million lei.

• The Education-2030 program provides for 13.46 billion lei in investment in 2026-2030, including 3.71 billion lei from the state budget and 7.96 billion lei in external assistance. The plan includes 5,000 nursery places, equipping at least 400 schools and kindergartens, and developing a network of 90 model schools.

Industry

• Industrial producer prices rose by 0.30% month-on-month and by 0.60% since the beginning of the year in July, but were 0.20% below July 2025. Year-on-year growth was 7.70% in extractive industries and 0.90% in manufacturing, while energy prices fell by 12.80%.

Agriculture

• Honey production increased from 2.20 thousand tons in 2005 to 5.50 thousand tons in 2025; about 90.00% of output is exported to the EU, while export revenue exceeded $13.50 million in 2025. In 2026, AIPA has already allocated more than 125 million lei to support beekeeping.

Business and Companies

• Chișinău Airport passenger traffic rose by 21.00% in the first half of the year, placing it 5th among medium-sized European airports by growth rate. Average growth in this ACI Europe category was 3.70%, increasing pressure on the airport's capacity.

• Collective accommodation establishments received 257.30 thousand tourists in the first half of the year, up 15.80% year-on-year; non-residents accounted for 62.00%. The occupancy rate rose to 28.40%, while the average length of stay declined to 3.60 days.

Social Economy

• The new public sector pay law is planned to be approved in October and take effect on January 1, 2027; the wage fund will increase by more than 5 billion lei in 2027 - to 38 billion lei. By the end of 2026, 560 million lei will be allocated for compensation to public sector employees earning less than 20 thousand lei per month.

• Teachers will receive 4 thousand lei each by the end of 2026, while salary increases for individual categories will range from 4.90% to 37.00% starting in 2027. The estimated salary of a teacher without a teaching degree will rise from 10.78 thousand to 12.30 thousand lei, and that of a Category I high school principal from 18.20 thousand to 21.90 thousand lei.

Day in Figures

AGENDA

• On August 20, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan will hold an expanded meeting with agricultural associations, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Agriculture and Moldovan Railways on the transit of Ukrainian grain and priority access for Moldovan farmers to rail transport.

• On August 20, the second round of admissions to vocational schools for dual education programs begins; admissions will continue through August 28.