European market increasingly important for Moldovan exporters of plant products

Chisinau, 19 February /MOLDPRES- Exports of agri-food products from Moldova reached over one billion dollars last year. “2017 was a good year for exports, with a significant increase in some product groups and a diversification of the Moldovan products market”, the director-general of the National Agency for Food Safety (ANSA), Gheorghe Gaberi, said today.

Over the past year, ANSA inspectors have certified over 92,000 consignments of herbal products, which were delivered to over 80 countries. “Export directions have changed in most product groups, many new products have appeared, I mean primarily berries, herbs, other botanicals”, Gaberi said.

He added that the export of dried fruits, representing an important position in the structure of exports, and firstly the plums, increased from 6,000 to 9,000 tons. Moldova will start exporting frozen products, berries, which are very much demanded, especially in the EU.

“Last year, we had a 9- per cent- increase in export of fresh apples, over 90 per cent reaching the Russian market, but for the first time, we started exporting apples in thousands of tons to the EU market”, he said. Gaberi also said that the plum export increased and reached 52,000 tons last year, of which 18,000 tons were delivered to the European market, including Germany, France, the Czech Republic and Poland, in total 18 countries.

Moldova exported about 80,000 tons of grapes in 2017. “We used the double quota that we have been given, we have exported another 10,000 tons overpaid, duty-paid to the EU. The Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure has already requested an increase in the export quota for 2018”, he said.

The main market for cereals, wheat, maize and sunflower is the European and Indian Ocean basin.

In another context, he said that the Moldovan authorities are working to open up new export markets. They are working to get the right to export to India, for example. He said that there are several operators who have already shown interest in “Moldova Fruct” and are ready to take over 300,000 tons and more. Export opportunities to Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries are considered.

Referring to the dairy scandal, in which over-normed vegetable fats were discovered, Gaberi said that on 20 February, detailed information will be made public as regards the results of the control by ANSA teams.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor M. Jantovan)