According to EastFruit, based on the data from the Customs Service of Moldova, in the recent two weeks of October 2023 the country exported about 10 thousand tons of fresh table grapes worth more than US $6 million. This is a steep increase compared to the same period of 2022. Volumes of exports rose by 32% and the revenues – by 38%, indicating higher prices for the table grapes. For comparison, during the period from July till 10 October 2023, Moldova has exported 15 thousand tons of grapes earning US $9 million.
Experts from table grapes associations explain relatively high export volumes in October by the fact that a significant share of exports goes to the foreign markets directly, bypassing fruit storage facilities. These are mostly grapes from rain-fed vineyards, as well as fruits of quality that would not be suitable for long-term storage.
This is confirmed by the fact that the majority of October exports came to the CIS countries – 54% or 5.2 thousand tons, at a relatively low average wholesale price of $0.51/kg. In the meanwhile 3.6 thousand tons of Moldovan grapes were sent to the more quality demanding EU markets, which amounts to 37% of all exports. The average export price of these higher quality grapes was also considerably higher – at around $0.86/kg. The main EU importer of Moldova’s table grapes was Romania, which imported 2.1 thousand tons with an average price of US $0.78/kg.
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The bulk of Moldovan grapes exported in autumn are of “Moldova” variety. By the end of the second ten days of October 2023, the wholesale price for grapes of this variety in the country exceeded last year’s level for this period by 30% and reached the average for the three previous years – 10 lei/kg ($0.55/kg).
According to representatives of industry associations, the pace of grape exports will likely decrease in the coming weeks. Firstly, the harvesting will be completed and supplies from the vineyards directly to the market will cease. Secondly, winegrowers and traders are bullish about the price outlook for grapes in the coming months and will prefer storing higher quality grapes in hopes of selling them at higher prices. Sales will pick up again probably in the second half of November and December at a higher price.
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