Import Breakdown by Product Type
Import flows are categorized by type: bulk and packaged. Moldova imported 505 metric tons (13.3 million lei) of bulk refined sunflower oil. This accounts for 39.1% of the volume and 36.4% of the value of sunflower oil imports.
Last month, 787 metric tons of packaged sunflower oil were imported into the country (23.3 million lei, 30 lei per liter). This accounts for 60.9% of the volume and 63.6% of the value. The 2.7% difference between the value share and the volume share in the packaged products segment reflects the premium for packaging, branding, and retail logistics (+15.4% compared to the price of bulk oil).
Geography and Import Prices
Sunflower oil is supplied to Moldova from three countries: Ukraine, Russia, and Romania. There is a marked differentiation among suppliers depending on the volume, type, and price of the product.
In terms of total trade volume (bulk and packaged), Ukraine leads by a wide margin (1.06 thousand metric tons, 29.7 million lei). Russia ranks second (147 metric tons, 4.5 million lei), and Romania ranks third (84 metric tons, 2.5 million lei).
Ukraine also dominates in the breakdown of imports by product type—bulk (487 metric tons, 12.8 million lei) and packaged (574 metric tons, 16.9 million lei, 29.54 lei/liter). The remaining small volume (18 metric tons) of bulk oil is supplied to Moldova from Russia, but at a higher price.
In the segment of imported bottled oil, the structure of supplier countries includes a third player—Romania. The neighboring country supplies only bottled oil to the Moldovan market, and it is the cheapest (for comparison: Romanian product—29.12 lei/liter, Ukrainian—29.54 lei/liter, Russian—30.50 lei/liter).
Importers
The Ratio of Imports to Exports in Trade
Logos Press previously reported that sunflower oil exports from Moldova in June totaled 17,900 metric tons, worth 418.3 million lei, which corresponds to 93.3% of the total volume and 91.9% of the total value of trade in this commodity.
At the same time, the export price of Moldovan sunflower oil last month was approximately 23,300 lei/metric ton. Imports of this product were made at an average price of 28,400 lei per metric ton, which is 21.7% more expensive.
The explanation for the difference is obvious: exports consist mainly of a semi-finished product—raw oil in bulk—while imports consist largely of a product with higher added value—bottled oil.
