The Moldova Fruct Association, citing the customs service of the Republic of Moldova, reports that in December 2023, more than 7.5 thousand tons of fresh apples were exported from the country for a total amount of about US $4.5 million. In November 2023, Moldova exported little more of these fruits abroad – 7.8 thousand tons, earning US $4 million in revenues, according to EastFruit.
December apple exports from Moldova were record low for the recent five years. In December 2022 Moldova exported 8.3 thousand tons of fresh apples, in the same month of 2021 – 19.6 thousand tons, in December 2020 – 10.5 thousand tons, in December 2019 – 17.5 thousand tons, and in December 2018 – 19.9 thousand tons.
Read also: How Moldova’s apple industry fares in MY 2023/24: review and outlook
Statistical data shows that 3.5 thousand tons, which is almost half of the total volume of apple exports from Moldova in December 2023 were sent to the Russian market. This is very strange and surprising, given that from December 4, 2023, the Russian Department of Phytosanitary and Veterinary Surveillance introduced a complete ban on imports of fruits, vegetables and other plant-based products from Moldova.
The list of other major importers of Moldovan apples in December 2023 includes Romania with a bit more than 1 thousand tons of fresh apples imported, Saudi Arabia – 602 tons, UAE – 365 tons, India – 180 tons, and Israel – 141 tons.
In total, from July to December 2023, Moldova exported about 39 thousand tons of apples from the 2023 harvest – this is the weakest result in the five-year period. According to estimates of the industry experts, apple harvest in Moldova in 2023 reached 500-510 thousand tons.
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