In March, almost 167 thousand tons of cereals were exported from Moldova (for the amount of 648 million lei). The growth compared to the data for February is plus 48% in physical terms and plus 50% in financial terms. This is no longer market inertia, but acceleration of trade dynamics.
The structure of March exports is identical to that in February. Wheat accounts for 64% of the total volume of Moldovan grain exports, while corn – 32%. The ratio of shares has not changed – only the scale of supplies has changed.
The redistribution of export geography is even more noticeable. If in February the wheat flow was shared by Greece and Italy (69% in total), in March the picture changed dramatically. Romania single-handedly took 64% of Moldovan wheat exports. The geography of corn supplies from Moldova is also different – from “Italian” it turned into “Lebanese history”.
At first glance, Moldova’s grain exports are diverse – as many as eight crops. Formally, this is not a fixation on a monoculture, but a differentiated trade flow.
But a deeper analysis shows a strict hierarchy of the structure of grain exports from Moldova. Two crops – wheat and corn – account for 96% of shipments. The structure by weight and by value generally coincide, with private discrepancies reflecting the price logic of the market. Wheat makes up 64% by weight but only 62% by value – meaning it is sold at a price below the average unit price of the grain basket. In contrast, corn, with a 32% share by weight, gains 34% by value, indicating a higher realized price.
Market segment “wheat”
In March 2026, wheat was the undisputed leader of Moldovan grain exports. Out of the total volume of 167 thousand tons, it accounted for 107 thousand tons. The total revenue from wheat deliveries abroad amounted to 403 million lei, with an average selling price of 3,768 lei/t.
Exports were made to six countries on three continents, which in itself indicates a wide geographical coverage. The undoubted leader among the recipient countries was Romania: 68.6 thousand tons, worth 255 million lei. In fact, every two out of three tons of Moldovan wheat in March were shipped to Romania – a neighboring country and the most important transit hub for Moldova.
The second place is occupied by Italy with a noticeable gap: 20.1 thousand tons and 19% by weight. It is indicative that Italy’s share by value (20%) is slightly higher than the share by weight, which is explained by the higher price – 3927 lei/t. The Italian market historically has higher requirements to grain quality, which is reflected in the price premium.
Turkey and Lebanon follow – 6-6.7 thousand tons each and 6% in the volume structure. Prices here differ: Lebanon paid 3936 lei/t, Turkey – only 3630 lei/t. This is a characteristic feature of the Turkish market: traditionally pressuring prices for large purchases of grain, taking advantage of its position as one of the world’s largest importers.
Export of Moldovan wheat in March 2026 was provided by 31 companies – quite a wide range of participants for one month. The top three exporters accounted for 68% of the total volume of shipments. The absolute leader (34% of export commodity flow) was Rusagro-Prim SRL – more than 35 thousand tons, almost 138 million lei). The average price of the company’s export shipments is 3907 lei/t. This is higher than the market average, which may indicate either a higher quality of grain or sales to more premium markets.
In second place is Agro-Nova Prim SRL with 19.6 thousand tons (18% by weight and by value). The selling price is 3,766 lei/t, close to the average level. In third place is Vadalex Grains SRL: 18.1 thousand tons (17% for both indicators), price – 3,680 lei/t.
The three largest companies jointly control 68% of the commodity flow. This structure is typical for markets with high logistical and operational “barriers to entry”: only large players are able to form stable shipments, negotiate with freight agents and maintain competitive prices.
Corn market segment
Corn in March formed the second most important export flow in the grain group of goods: 53.9 thousand tons and 218.1 million lei – 32% by volume and 34% by value. The very fact that the “corn share” is bigger in value speaks about the main thing – this crop is traded with a price premium. The average price is 4,048 lei/t, 7.4% higher than the price of wheat. March is not the peak of the corn selling season, the new harvest is still far away, there is no pressure of the volume of goods on the market, but the price situation is favorable.
Corn from Moldova was supplied to nine countries – the geography of export is wider than in the wheat segment of the market. However, unlike wheat export, Lebanon became the leader in the list of Moldovan corn importers – 23,2 thousand tons (43% by weight, 46% by value). The price – 4,371 lei/t. Number two – Cyprus, 3.5 thousand tons (6% and 7% respectively). Price – 4,416 lei/t, this is the more expensive supply direction. Similar, though less pronounced, dynamics is observed in the third number of the rating – Italy (2.4% for both indicators). The price is noticeably lower – 4,054 lei/t.
Romania, being the largest recipient of Moldovan wheat, in the corn segment, ranks only sixth in terms of supply volumes and is at the bottom of the “price scale” of this commodity.
The corn market turned out to be noticeably more concentrated than the wheat market, despite the smaller volume of external supplies. In March, 18 Moldovan companies exported corn – almost twice less than in the case of wheat. The clear leader is again Rusagro-Prim SRL: 20.3 thousand tons and 86.3 million lei (38% and 40%). This means that every fifth ton of corn that left Moldovan customs in March was shipped by this company. The selling price – 4261 lei/t, higher than the average on the market. The second and third places are shared by Orom-Imexpo SRL and Agro-Nova Prim SRL with almost the same indicator of physical export: 9.5 and 9.5 thousand tons (18% each). However, in terms of value of shipments, these exporters lag far behind the leader: Orom-Imexpo – 42.4 million lei (19%), Agro-Nova – 36.7 million lei (17%).
“March is the penultimate month before the spring-summer marketing season begins to change the balance of supply and demand,” summarizes agro-marketing expert Iurie Rija, author of this market review. – Wheat stocks are shrinking and the storage period is coming to an end. Corn segment of the grain market of Moldova, on the contrary, will revive as the new harvest approaches. Traders working with Moldovan grain should pay attention to two factors: whether Romania will continue to dominate wheat supplies and whether Lebanon will retain its position as a key corn buyer. We will get answers to both questions already in the April statistics”.
