During the past week, nearly all varieties of table grapes (except seedless) have slightly dropped in price on the Moldovan wholesale market. Prices for the main export grape variety “Moldova” decreased the most on average by 1-2 lei/kg and the best quality was shipped abroad at no more than 12 lei/kg ($0.72/kg). On the largest wholesale-retail market in Chisinau, the price of this variety in small wholesale together with a wooden box dropped to 8 lei/kg ($0.48/kg).
Managers of vineyards note that at a price of 11-12 lei/kg, grapes of less quality were sold in October from the plantations immediately after the harvest. The highest quality products were put into storage. As a result, the price for it at the end of the second ten days of December barely covers the production cost plus the costs of sorting, storage, and packaging.
Experts from the Table Grape Producers Association believe a similar scenario like the 2018-2019 season may be unfolding in the current marketing year. Back then, producers tried in autumn to sell lesser quality products at a high price that was prevailing at that time, but this ruined their image. By winter, the price of demand even for high-quality grapes for exports fell by almost half.
Due to drought, the quality of the 2020 grape harvest in Moldova also leaves much to be desired. Yet even high-quality products grown in irrigated vineyards are currently not in high demand in the EU market and potential buyers are requesting only high-quality seedless grapes.
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