This season, Moldova exported a record 12,000 tons of apricots, up from 4,000 tons in 2023 and 7,500 tons in 2022. Over 10,000 tons of this volume reached Western markets, including Poland, Romania, Croatia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Slovenia. Moldovan apricots reached wholesale markets and EU supermarket shelves. The EU sold it in properly packaged and certified forms.
In 2020, Moldovan exporters sent 85% of apricot shipments to the Eurasian Customs Union (ECU). By the 2024 season, this number had dropped to just 13%, reflecting a successful market diversification strategy.
Exporters report a significant increase in demand from EU importers this season, which coincided with a bountiful apricot harvest in Moldova. However, Moldovan apricot exporters faced strong competition in the EU market due to earlier harvests caused by climatic conditions, leading to overlapping availability with apricots from Spain and the Balkans.
Stefan Pislaru, the sales manager at one of the exporting companies, noted, “We had a favorable season for apricots, achieving both high volume and quality for export. We observed increased demand in the EU market, and our company exported over 90% of our apricots there.”
Victor Cazacu, manager of another company, emphasized the importance of certification, packaging, and quality: “Moldovan apricots have great potential for international export. This year, we supplied apricots exclusively in cardboard boxes, eliminating wood packaging.”
Andrei Cumpanici, manager for food safety, quality, and sustainability under the USAID Rural Competitiveness and Sustainability in Moldova project, stressed the need for GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP certification: “This year, the project continues to help 25 fruit-producing and exporting companies, including five apricot growers, implement GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP standards. These requirements cover food safety, environmental sustainability, employee welfare, animal welfare, supply chain traceability, and enterprise capacity building.”