Moldova’s inability to establish itself as a transit hub for Ukrainian goods has caused a significant decline in the country’s exports.

According to economists, Moldova’s exports have fallen for five consecutive quarters, hitting a three-year low in the second quarter at $859M, down 30% from the all-time high set in the corresponding period in 2022. Annual export value reached $3.78B, which is $558M less than at the beginning of 2023. One of the main reasons for the decline is Moldova’s inability to remain a transit center for Ukrainian goods. Although Moldova benefited from a significant increase in trade flows from Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian goods now mostly bypass Moldova. Also, the situation in Moldova is affected by the reduction in the export of agricultural products and the poor state of industry. Experts emphasize that the drop in exports reflects the country’s current economic problems, providing a clear picture of the Moldovan economic crisis.