Previously, between 2015 and 2019, Moldova accounted for more than 11–15.3% of the EU walnut market (with the highest share recorded in 2015), exporting approximately 9,000–10,000 metric tons of walnut kernels annually. Over the entire period under review—that is, from 2015 to the present—Moldova has supplied 76,63 thousand metric tons of walnuts to the European market, representing an average market share of 6.8%.
Market trends indicate that the European Union is diversifying its sources of walnut imports. Some of its traditional suppliers (Chile, Ukraine, Moldova, and others) are gradually—or, in some cases, rapidly—losing their competitive advantages in the European market. Meanwhile, China is strengthening its position through large volumes and competitive prices, while the U.S. is reaping market benefits from new trade mechanisms, according to mundus-agri.eu.
