According to Moldova Fruct, the pace of Moldova's apple exports remains sluggish despite substantial stock levels. In December 2024, just over 6,000 tons of apples were exported—a modest figure for a typically busy pre-holiday season. This is comparable to monthly export volumes seen during autumn and falls short of previous years. In December 2023, Moldova exported 7,500 tons, while the figures were 8,300 tons in 2022 and nearly 20,000 tons in 2021.
Between July 1 and December 31, 2024, Moldova exported around 37,000 tons of apples from the 2024 harvest. Meanwhile, the domestic market consumed an estimated 20,000–25,000 tons of dessert apples during the same period. Additionally, agricultural and processing specialists delivered approximately 220,000 tons of apples to concentrate production facilities in 2024—a figure lower than the summer forecast of 230,000–250,000 tons.
As of mid-January, Moldova Fruct estimates that about 150,000–160,000 tons of apples from the 2024 harvest remain in storage. However, rising electricity tariffs and uncertainty in Moldova's energy market are adding pressure. Experts predict that 10,000–15,000 tons of stored apples may be sold to processing facilities during the winter and spring of 2025, while another 20,000–25,000 tons are likely to be absorbed by the domestic market.
This leaves 100,000–120,000 tons of apples to be exported over the next five months. Monthly export volumes of 20,000–25,000 tons during late winter and early spring are achievable, as Moldova has met similar export demands in recent years. Furthermore, a mild apple shortage in some EU markets this season may provide opportunities. Still, sustaining this export pace remains a significant challenge for Moldova's trade sector.
Source: agroexpert.md