The Republic of Moldova this year has exported apricots to Hungary for the first time. Three national producers signed contracts with a Hungarian company and exported apricots for processing and for consumption in fresh form to this country, IPN reports.

Octavian Olaru, director of the marketing department of the Fruit Producers and Exporters Association “Moldova Fruct”, said that the apricot orchards in the Republic of Moldova expand annually and the national producers make effort to enter new markets. They earlier sold their products primarily to the Russian Federation, but now aim to also conquer EU markets. The Moldovan apricots have been exported to Germany, Austria, Romania.  

The Moldovan apricots for processing were exported at the price of €0.7 per kg. The price of fruit for consumption in fresh form is twice higher – €1.4 per kg.  

Octavian Olaru noted that Moldova during the past two years entered more fruit markets of Europe. Earlier, the Moldovan fruit were principally exported to Romania, the Baltic countries, Poland, but now they are also exported to Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Croatia. “For example, we export grapes to Spain. Four two years, Moldovan plums have been sold to Germany. The Moldovan grapes and plums are exported to Poland and Croatia. The Moldovan apples are less present on the EU market as there is Poland, which is a large apple producer in the region,” stated the representative of “Moldova Fruct”.

Moldova this year exported small quantities of cherries as the heavy rain affected their quality. Cherries are mostly exported to Russia and Belarus because these countries offer a higher price.

According to Octavian Olaru, the national fruit producers should aim to also enter the markers of Middle East. The Russian Federation has own orchards and can satisfy internal demand for fruit so that the Moldovan fruit are not competitive there. “This year, we will try to deliver supplies in India,”  said the representative of “Moldova Fruct”.