In a statement to the Moldovan media, the association’s leadership asserts that it learned of the 50% discount on the transit of Ukrainian goods via Moldova’s railways from a statement by the Prime Minister of Ukraine. The preferential rate was introduced on August 10 and will remain in effect until the end of 2026.
“Better a terrible end than endless terror”
“Farmers in the Republic of Moldova are interested in the prompt export of grain and oilseed products from the neighboring country, as the large volume of these products is putting pressure on the regional market and causing a significant drop in prices for these goods,” — the leadership of “Forța Fermierilor” acknowledges the need to quickly relieve the Black Sea region’s market of large grain surpluses. — However, given our negative experience (with “Ukrainian transit” through our country’s territory note: Logos Press) in 2022–2023, we expected transparency, consultation, and respect for the interests of domestic farmers and exporters.”
In this regard, the association’s leadership notes: “Recently, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Volodymyr Bolya stated that negotiations are underway to provide transit support for short periods of one, two, or three days.” However, it later became known that the discount was granted through the end of the year (that is, for the first half of the marketing season, when the market traditionally experiences “price pressure” —due to carryover stocks from last year’s harvest, high volumes of the new harvest, and infrastructure and logistical constraints— Logos Press note).
At the same time, none of Moldova’s competent authorities “explained to Moldovan grain market operators how the next wave of Ukrainian grain and oilseed transit—especially under preferential terms— might affect the export of Moldovan products.” This is all the more relevant given that a good harvest—at least for first-group field crops—is already a reality in Moldova itself.
It is also important to note that in July, nearly one-third of Moldova’s wheat was exported by rail, as reported by Logos Press.
“Will we find ourselves in a situation where exports of domestic grains and oilseeds are blocked over the next four months due to a shortage of railcars and an overall increase in logistics costs?” asks the leadership of “Forța Fermierilor” rhetorically. This is all the more concerning given that, so far, “nothing is known about plans for road transit or whether we will face a shortage of trucks and traffic jams at customs checkpoints with Romania.” (One could, of course, make a remark about such “unawareness” in such an obvious situation— Logos Press note).
Risks Are Mounting
One thing that cannot be disputed is that, as “Forța Fermierilor” puts it, “it is obvious to Moldovan farmers that there is currently a huge risk of a collapse in domestic prices for grains and oilseeds.”
Moldova also remains at risk of finding itself “between a rock and a hard place”: on the one hand, a regime of free imports and preferential transit of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine, and on the other, a licensing system for imports of certain agri-food products from Ukraine into Romania. In other words, there is a high risk that, as “Forța Fermierilor” puts it, “the transit regime could at any moment transform into an import regime, and then into an export regime, should the country of origin of the products change.”
In addition to negatively impacting agricultural prices in Moldova’s domestic market, this could provoke a sharp reaction from Romania. This already happened in 2023—Romanian authorities and the corporate business community discussed the possibility of introducing a licensing regime for shipments of grains and oilseeds from the Republic of Moldova, similar to the one applied to goods from Ukraine.
“In this context, we do not understand why our request for the temporary introduction of a licensing regime for imports of grains and oilseeds from Ukraine is not even being discussed… We do not know whether this decision was discussed with Agrocereale, the Association of Grain and Oilseed Exporters, and we have not heard an official position from that organization,” states the “Forța Fermierilor” press release.
“Whoever increases knowledge increases sorrow”
Sometimes it’s more convenient and peaceful not to know. But in this particular situation, everyone knew everything. In late July, Logos Press, citing Ukrainian media, reported that, with the European Commission acting as a mediator, the authorities of Ukraine, Romania, and the Republic of Moldova were discussing the possibility of reactivating the “solidarity corridors” — through which foreign shipments of Ukrainian agricultural raw materials would pass. It was also reported that an intergovernmental agreement in principle had been reached on this matter. And that Prime Minister Tofan opposes licensing shipments of products from Ukraine.
However, some practical questions remain. For example, will Romanian ports and shipowners offer Ukrainian grain traders a discount on grain transshipment services? If only so that Moldova does not feel left out of this celebration of “fairy-tale good neighborliness.”
Or another question: Can the Dniester be considered a “corridor of solidarity” in supplying Moldova with a vital resource—water? Apparently, “this is something else,” and we’re missing the point.
