According to experts from fruit growing organizations in Moldova, by mid-January 2024, at least 130-135 tons of apples have been obtained from last year’s harvest. These apples remained in the storage facilities of agricultural producers and traders. According to the report of market players, apple sales slowed down considerably in the winter months this season and apple stocks were in surplus.
Apple price is high for Moldovan people
Market players had previously reported that only 7.5 thousand tons of fresh apples were exported from Moldova in December 2023; This was the lowest December export figure in the last five years. At the same time, according to retailers, apple sales in winter are still low because the retail price is too high for the Moldovan consumer and reaches 1 euro/kg. This makes the prices of bananas and citrus fruits more attractive, and consumers buy more of these fruits instead of apples.
Exports of Moldovan apples are increasing
At the same time, the Moldovan Fruit Association states that since mid-January 2024, exports of Moldovan apples to Romania and some other EU countries, the UK, and the Persian Gulf countries have been increasing. However, representatives of the association think that it is not impossible to sell some of the apples in stock to processors. These will mostly be outdated apple varieties or apples with quality issues. Fortunately, industrial apple prices remain very strong, supported by higher apple juice concentrate prices.
In the spring of two years ago, about 40 thousand tons of apples went from Moldova’s warehouses to processing factories because farmers could not find buyers.
