News about Agribusiness
Ukraine proposes to introduce a reduced VAT rate of 14% for basic food products. This measure is seen as a mechanism to curb food prices due to rising fuel prices.
In April, reports appeared in the information field of Moldova that some local exporters of walnuts found themselves in an alarming situation – with warehouse balances of last year’s products intended for export amounting to millions of euros. Is it really that bad and why is it so? Let us try to define the nuances.
Prior to the war in Ukraine, Latvian and Lithuanian ports served Belarusian cargoes, including exports of mineral fertilizers. Therefore, the Lithuanians recently received an unambiguous signal from the United States to start negotiations with Lukashenka.
The market of grains and oilseeds in the Black Sea region in April is influenced by a variety of factors that periodically adjust the price situation for one or another type of raw materials up or down. But in general sunflower in the countries of the region was becoming more expensive, while prices for wheat and corn stabilized after an initial short-term jump due to the war in the Middle East.
In the 2026-27 marketing year, Ukraine will increase sunflower and rapeseed acreage at the expense of a decrease in soybean acreage. At the same time, the total area under oilseeds in this country will remain stable due to, among other things, relatively good weather conditions in spring of this year
The end of the marketing year 2025-26 on the apple market of Ukraine and Moldova may end on a minor note. Due to a combination of economic, technological and logistical reasons, prices for last year’s apple from refrigerators may decrease in the second half of spring. This forecast is voiced by fruit market operators of both countries, despite the systemic differences in the apple business of Ukraine and Moldova.
The CIS remains an important market for certain categories of Moldovan products. This was stated by Inna Voicu, Secretary General of the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization.
Starting August 12 of this year, the European Union will begin implementing new rules on food packaging and packaging waste. The changes will be implemented in accordance with Regulation UE 2025/40. The new rules will be applied in phases until 2040. The regulation applies to all products entering the European market, including those from outside the EU.
In March, food prices in Ukraine increased by 1.3%, in Moldova – by 1%. On an annualized basis (compared to the indicator in March 2025), Ukrainian food prices increased by 9.5%, Moldovan – by 6.3%.
About 6.5 thousand hectares will be occupied by contracted sugar beet crops in the raw material zone of Sudzucker Moldova this year. The second sugar producing company, Moldova Zahăr, has not yet publicly announced its plans for the sowing season 2026. And this is a worrying moment in assessing the prospects of the sugar beet industry in Moldova for the current season.
Specialists of the State Tax Service and PCCOCS uncovered a tax evasion scheme organized by a family engaged in business in agriculture. The damage to the budget amounted to more than 7 million lei.
Small agricultural producers can receive loans of up to 2 million lei to cover working capital needs under the programs financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
On the world’s leading exchanges, quotations of wheat futures rose by 0.7%, partially recovering the preliminary fall caused by the “psychological relief” in the global grain market after the announcement of a truce.
The Agency for Investments and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA) announced that it has completed the payment of insurance subsidies (70% of the amount of insurance premiums) for 654 farmer applications received between February 1 and September 30, 2025. The total amount of subsidies to this category for last year amounted to LE 117.08 million.
New rules will come into force on the seed market of the Republic of Moldova, which will facilitate the introduction of high-yielding varieties and hybrids in agriculture. And partially eliminate the distortions in the Moldovan seed market, which arose after the introduction of OECD and ISTA certificates as a mandatory norm for seed imports. The Government approved draft amendments to the Law on Seeds (No. 68/2013).
From now on, importers of small horned cattle have to take into account a number of requirements for accompanying documents. The Government approved the Regulation on the import of purebred breeding animals of sheep and goats to the Republic of Moldova.
The jubilee conference of Moldovan winemakers “Wine Year 2025: Data, Solutions and Results” demonstrated the progressive growth of the industry by many indicators and outlined the benchmarks for the future.
The government has approved new rules for the sale of eggs. They require producers to provide more detailed information on the product packaging and provide for better traceability of the product from farm to commercial outlet. Producers are also required to comply with the conditions for exporting eggs to the EU market.
The hope for a rapid de-escalation of the armed conflict and unblocking of commodity flows in the Persian Gulf zone has certainly provoked “exhalation of relief” of many subjects of the world agro-food business. In Moldova, the first ranks of those wishing to see “light at the end of the tunnel” are probably already occupied by producers of dairy products.
The new procedure for the development of the project and plan for the establishment of plantations of fruit plantations, perennial berries and strawberries, formulated in the form of a draft government decree, has been submitted to the associations of fruit growers for analysis. Yesterday, at the meeting in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry MAIA of these associations presented proposals on the adjustment of this draft.
