Moldova’s exports fell by more than 6% in August 2026 compared with the same period last year. This ended a 13-month streak of growth.
Economist and Doctor of Economics Vladimir Golovatyuk reported the decline, citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The sharpest fall came in industrial goods. Agricultural exports had previously offset declines in industry, but they also fell for the first time in a long period.
According to Golovatyuk’s analysis, exports of non-agricultural goods fell by 12%. Machinery and electrical equipment saw the steepest decline, at 28%. Textile exports fell by 10%, furniture by 9%, and stone and cement by 7%.
“In previous months, growth in fresh and processed agricultural exports offset the decline in industrial exports. But in August this year, agricultural exports also fell, by 0.6%,” the economist said.
Food industry exports fell even more sharply, dropping by 22%. In particular, exports of vegetable oil fell more than fourfold. Fruit exports declined by 13%. Golovatyuk noted that seasonal factors may partly explain this drop, especially in the case of apples. However, farmers had also reported problems with the cherry harvest and, in particular, the plum harvest.
The economist also highlighted the imbalance in Moldova’s trade with neighbouring countries.
“We sell twice as little to Bulgaria as we buy from that country, and 2.3 times less to Romania. Trade with Ukraine is especially striking: imports from that country exceed Moldova’s exports there by as much as 4.1 times,” Golovatyuk noted.
The August decline was the first after 13 consecutive months of growth in Moldovan exports. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Moldova exported goods worth €268.5 million in August 2026. This was 16.2% less than in July.
Part of the industrial decline is linked to conditions in the European market. In particular, falling car production has directly affected Moldovan suppliers of cables and automotive components. According to Moldavskie Vedomosti, two major automotive suppliers, Fujikura and Coroplast, have left the country. No replacement companies have arrived.
Golovatyuk said the problem was structural.
“Export growth in previous months was driven mainly by favourable weather and good harvests, not by government policies to support export-oriented industries. Agricultural exports can no longer offset the decline in industry, while Moldova’s trade balance with neighbouring countries remains unfavourable. In these conditions, protecting the domestic market and supporting local producers have become practical priorities for the authorities in Chisinau,” the economist explained.
