Last year, due to spring frosts, the country’s apricot harvest amounted to no more than 30% of the average level. As a result, exports of this fruit fell nearly sevenfold—to just over 1,000 metric tons.
Five years ago, Ukraine was one of the most important foreign buyers of Moldovan apricots. Since then, the market for importers of this product has expanded to include European Union countries. Thus, even during last year’s crisis, the main markets for apricots from the Republic of Moldova were Romania, followed by Ukraine and Serbia. According to Moldova Fruct, shipments to Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Croatia, and Hungary indicate the expanding presence of Moldovan producers in the European Union market.
Infrastructure for Quality Growth
For the 2026 season, the industry association reports not only a higher harvest of apricots and peaches than last year but also higher fruit quality. To a certain extent, this is due not only to relatively favorable weather conditions but also to the application of accumulated knowledge and innovative technologies for protecting orchards from frost, as well as irrigation systems and appropriate phytosanitary measures.
This year, as noted in the Moldova Fruct report, fruit growers have produced large-sized fruit with optimal color, firmness, and sugar content, thanks to which the majority of the harvest falls into the highest quality category for export. According to Moldova Fruct, Moldovan fruit-growing and trading companies have begun actively investing in quality management and post-harvest infrastructure. Dozens of companies already hold certifications for the IFS Food, GlobalG.A.P., GRASP, and SMETA standards.
In recent years, an increasing number of Moldovan companies have been selecting varieties adapted to local climatic conditions and collaborating with specialized suppliers from Spain and France. Producers prefer varieties with different flowering and ripening periods, which helps reduce the risks associated with late frosts and extend the harvest and shipping season. As a result, the sector’s potential is growing, and more and more producers are deciding to establish new plantations.
