Export Volumes by Crop
The most notable changes have occurred in sunflower seed exports, which have tripled over the past four years, reaching nearly 810,000 metric tons in the 2025–26 season.
Exports of rapeseed, the second-largest oilseed crop, showed a steady upward trend over the entire period, despite declines in certain seasons. Compared to the previous season, rapeseed exports tripled in 2025–26, reaching over 297,000 metric tons—the highest level for the period under review.
Barley maintained a more balanced and predictable export pace. Last season’s export volume (133,000 metric tons) was close to the previous season’s figure (124,000 metric tons).
Corn exports rose to 302,000 metric tons. However, this volume remains far below the levels seen in the best seasons, when shipments were approximately one and a half times higher.
The most interesting trend is in wheat exports. Following a relatively weak previous season in 2025–26, exports of this crop increased and exceeded 1 million metric tons. “However, what sets this season apart is the uneven pace of commercial activity: farmers and traders only began exporting wheat intensively in March 2026—significantly later than in other seasons,” ” notes the study’s author, agromarketing expert Yuri Riza. “About one-third of the total wheat export volume was shipped during the spring.”
Prices
In the 2025–26 season, the average invoice price for sunflower seed exports from Moldova (11.47 lei/kg) nearly returned to the level of the best season (2022–23, 11.54 lei/kg).
The average export price for rapeseed last season was 9.07 lei/kg. Although this level is lower than the record high set in the 2022–23 season (11.36 lei/kg), it is higher than the average for the five-year period under review.
Grain prices remained stable, with no major deviations compared to previous seasons. Wheat was exported at an average price of 3.68 lei/kg, barley at 3.64 lei/kg, and corn at 4.25 lei/kg. Although corn was the most expensive commodity in the “grain basket,” its export price was lower than in the previous season.
Destinations
The distribution of export flows of grain and oilseeds shows that the European Union was and remains Moldova’s main trading partner—accounting for 66% of shipments by volume and 60% by value.
For example, nearly the entire volume of rapeseed exports last season was destined for the EU (92%).
The situation with sunflower seed exports is the opposite—buyers outside the EU dominate. Turkey ranks first, accounting for 57% of the volume of this commodity. It is worth noting that sunflower seeds are an expensive commodity, and this has influenced the structure of trade flows to the EU and other countries in value terms.
Wheat is also predominantly a “European commodity”: 80% of the volume goes to the EU, with premium markets—Italy and Greece—being the main buyers.
Barley exports are more diversified: about 60% of the physical volume of shipments goes to the EU. The export pattern for corn is similar, with the EU accounting for 51%.
Exporters
A quantitative ranking of exporters confirms the market dominance of several large companies (though with varying specializations by crop type). As expected, “RUSAGRO-PRIM” SRL became the market leader in the 2025–26 season, as the company with the largest and most diversified “export portfolio.”
In second place is “OROM-IMEXPO” SRL, which specializes in sunflower seed exports.
Third place goes to “AGRO-NOVA PRIM” SRL, with an export portfolio consisting primarily of grains.
