News about International trade
In the period from March 9 to March 15, 2026, the Customs Service of Moldova transferred to the state budget more than 860,8 million lei of taxes and fees collected from participants of foreign trade operations.
The Chinese government is responding to sulfur supply disruptions due to conflict in the Middle East and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz. The move has sharply raised shipping costs and sulfur prices, posing serious risks to the production of phosphate fertilizer needed for China’s spring planting campaign. The country imports about 47% of its sulphur, mostly from the Persian Gulf, so any disruption to transportation routes has a direct impact on domestic fertilizer production.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) has set the maximum fuel prices that will be in effect tomorrow, March 17.
Saudi Arabia has offered long-term buyers to receive April oil shipments through the port of Yanbu in the Red Sea. The country is preparing for possible prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to analysts at Goldman Sachs, a sharp rise in oil prices linked to the conflict in Iran could reduce global economic growth by about 0.3% and lead to higher inflation over the next year.
The global aluminum market is rapidly entering a deficit phase after one of the metal’s largest producers, Aluminium Bahrain, announced it would cut nearly 20% of its production capacity amid supply disruptions across the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran.
The authorities urge not to encourage inflation expectations. The rise in fuel prices over the past two weeks has increased the total costs of businesses by a maximum of 1.5%.
More than fifty Moldovan producers of still and sparkling wines are taking part in the ProWein 2026 exhibition taking place on March 15-17 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will hold an emergency meeting on the situation in the Middle East. The Council will focus on the impact of the situation in the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf region on shipping and seafarers, particularly in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Against the background of the crisis in the sugar beet industry and the prospects of importing agricultural products under the agreement with Mercosur, the European Union has allowed the import of transgenic corn and the production of genetically modified sugar beet.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs, first imposed last April and continually modified since then, have failed to start a global trade war. Instead of retaliating against the US, much of the world effectively capitulated. This response was often seen as political weakness, especially in Europe. However, it was based on sound economic logic.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, export growth, which began in July 2025, continued in January 2026.
After the successful completion of the trial deliveries stage, domestic orchardists received official confirmation: Ukrainian products meet India’s high standards. This paves the way for signing long-term contracts, which in the long term can ensure the export of up to 500 containers (about 10,000 tons) of apples annually.
India has ensured safe passage of liquefied gas tankers through the closed Strait of Hormuz. France and Italy have also started negotiations with Iran on the passage of their ships.
The renewal of the administrative board, as well as the problems of importing bee families and the quality of exported products were the focus of the general meeting of the National Association of Beekeepers of Moldova (ANARM) on March 13.
Romania actively responded to Moldova’s call for assistance in eliminating the consequences of the ecological crisis on the Dniester River. Specialists from IGSU Romania and Apele Române arrived in Chisinau with the pumping equipment needed for the cleanup work.
The U.S. renewed financial cooperation with Moldova, focusing on technical assistance to improve budget oversight. The initiative aims to strengthen public financial management, increase budget transparency, and implement international best control practices. The program includes support from U.S. experts to ensure financial stability and efficiency in the use of budgetary funds.
The Russian ambassador to Bucharest, in an interview with the Russian news agency TASS, speaking about a potential unification with Moldova, said that Romania would not be able to afford the costs of “uniru”.
The assessment of the functioning of the Black Sea corridor to Ukrainian ports as a vital economic line will be one of the topics of the international Conference on Security in the Black Sea Region to be held in Chisinau.
NEW YORK – The United States and Israel have launched a war that the Gulf states tried to avert by investing heavily in diplomacy. Now their civilian infrastructure is under daily attack.
