This year the Republic of Moldova for the first time exported apples to Germany and Finland. In January-June this year, 60 tonnes of Moldovan apples were exported to Germany, while 20 tonnes to Finland, Iurie Fală, executive director of the Association of Fruit Producers and Exporters “Moldova Fruct”, has told IPN.

He noted that in the first six months of this year Moldova exported 146,000 tonnes of apples, as opposed to 100,000 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, an increase of 46%. The rise is due to the expansion of export markets. Last year the Moldovan apples were exported mainly to the Russian Federation, but this year large quantities of apples were sold to Libya, Malaysia, Armenia, Bulgaria, Ukraine. Apple exports to the Middle East were also larger. About 1,000 tones of Moldovan apples reached Saudi Arabia so far this year.

A large quantity of apples from Moldova goes to Romania. Over 7,600 tonnes of Moldovan apples were exported to Romania in January-June this year, nine times more than in January-June last year, stated Iurie Fală.

He added that even if the apple exports in the period grew by 46%, the war in Ukraine negatively influenced the operations of exporters, including of fruit ones, as the transportation period and shipment costs increased.