The walnut harvest last year was by about 30% lower compared with a year before given the drought. The quality of kernel was also affected by the lack of precipitation.

Contacted by IPN, Victor Guțu, director of AMG Kernel, which manages considerable areas of walnut orchards, said the price of exported walnuts decreased as a result. The competition factor also had an impact as the harvest in such states as Chile and California (U.S.) was very good.

Victor Guțu said the losses are considerable. The producers have long-term contracts, but the contract clauses concerting the quantity, quality and delivery terms cannot be respected and they risk not being in the list of credible exporters next year. Last year, walnuts in shells were sold for US$2.5, but this year they are sold for US$1.5.

Carmina Vicol, manager of the company “Monicol”, which grows and also purchases walnuts from the population, said that owing to the drought, the kernel is dry and light in color and differs a lot from the quality standards on the European market. The prices in documents are set when the walnuts are on the tree and are dictated by the large players from the international market, which this year set much lower prices than those of the exporters from Moldova. The walnut cannot be left for next year as the quality will be lower. The domestic market cannot absorb the existing quantities.

According to studies, Moldova accounts for over 4% of the global walnut exports. About 40 Moldovan companies annually export over 10,000 tonnes of walnut kernel.