Victoria Furtună, leader of the Moldova Mare Party, has commented on what she described as an unusual situation on Moldova’s fuel market.
According to the politician, despite the stabilization of global oil prices, Moldovan drivers continue to face rising fuel costs and even occasional shortages of diesel fuel.
Furtună noted that global oil prices initially spiked above $100 per barrel amid tensions in the Middle East, but later corrected and began to decline. In Moldova, however, fuel prices have continued to rise steadily.
A Regional Price Paradox
The situation appears even more striking when compared with neighboring countries.
According to the data cited by Furtună, diesel prices in Romania an EU member state have increased by about 8%, while in Ukraine the increase has been roughly 7%.
In Moldova, however, prices have risen by approximately 23%, nearly three times the regional average.
“If we are dealing with the same regional context, the same international markets, and the same geopolitical risks, why is the market reaction in Moldova so much stronger than in Romania or Ukraine?” the politician asked.
Concerns About Diesel Availability
In addition to rising prices, Furtună also highlighted concerns about fuel availability.
According to her, diesel fuel periodically disappears from some gas stations, while others impose strict limits on how much can be purchased.
This creates serious difficulties for sectors such as agriculture and transport, which depend heavily on diesel during key periods such as the sowing season.
Meanwhile, fuel markets in neighboring countries are experiencing only moderate fluctuations, while Moldova appears to be facing both steadily rising prices and localized shortages.
Questions About Market Dynamics
The situation raises questions about the underlying causes of the price surge.
Although Moldova imports fuel from the same European markets as Romania and faces similar logistical costs, the final price for consumers is significantly higher.
According to Furtună, the international situation and the information environment surrounding geopolitical conflicts may be used by some market actors as justification for raising prices on the domestic market.
