The result is more than double the volume of shipments in January 2025 and 2024, when exports totaled more than 69,000 tons and 50,000 tons, respectively, notes Yuri Rizha, an expert in agro-marketing.
According to the data of the customs service of Moldova, in January 2026, the average export price level for sunflower amounted to 11.49 lei/kg – this is 4.2% higher than the average price level for this commodity in December 2025.
This situation indicates a slight consolidation of quotations, also due to unfavorable weather conditions for transport logistics. However, compared to the situation in January 2025, when the average export price amounted to 12.09 lei/kg, the price level for sunflower in January 2026 is lower (the difference is about 4.95%).
The basis for exports of agro-industrial complex products
Between August 2025 and January 2026, Moldova recorded the highest sunflower export volume in its recent history.
Thus, this oilseed crop became the main pillar of Moldova’s foreign agri-food trade. With total shipments of over 494 thousand tons, the season ends with an absolute record, exceeding by 40% the level of exports for the same period of the previous year (over 353 thousand tons).
The overall picture of export growth becomes even more obvious in comparison with previous periods. Current volumes are twice as high as exports for the period from August 2023 to January 2024, and they are more than three times higher than those from August 2022 to January 2023.
Export revenues are also growing
In addition to the increase in export volumes, the 2025-2026 season is also notable for the high average export price of sunflower, which reached 11.15 lei/kg. This level is 3% higher compared to the average price of the commodity between August 2024 and January 2025, when Moldovan exporters received an average of 10.88 lei/kg.
The difference is even more noticeable compared to the 2023-2024 season, when the average price was only 7.82 lei/kg, representing an increase of 43% over the two-year period.
The combined dynamics of prices and volumes directly led to a significant increase in revenues generated from sunflower exports. Between August 2025 and January 2026, the value of exports reached LE 5 billion, an unprecedented level for this segment of agricultural products. Compared to the previous season, the increase is 44%, and compared to the 2023-2024 season, revenues are almost three times higher.
