Romania keeps top position among Moldova's main trade partners

Chisinau, 18 February /MOLDPRES/ - Romania has consolidated its leading position among Moldova’s top trading partners, held since last September, after Moldovan exports to the Romanian market had increased by 5.6 per cent and the imports - by 11.2 per,, according to the National Statistics Bureau.

The trade exchanges between the two countries amounted to 1.237.1 billion dollars in 2014. This is for the first time ever that Romania outruns Russia in a top of countries with which Moldova has trade ties.

Moldova delivered goods worth 434 million dollars to Romania and made imports amounting to 1.140.9 billion dollars in 2014.

More manufacturers switched to the Romanian market, after Russia had put bans. Wine exports from Moldova to Romania doubled, plum deliveries increased about fourfold and the supplies of apple and sunflower seeds paste thrice and 5.5-fold, respectively, according to an analysis by the Romanian National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA).

The trade with Romania increased this year, both in value and in weight, amid dramatic reduction of trade with Russia. The trade relations with Russia deteriorated, after in late 2013 Moscow had put an embargo on imports of Moldovan spirits and banned the import of vegetables, fruits and canned goods in mid-2014.

Russia introduced customs duties on imports from Moldova starting from 1 September 2014, in response to the parliament initialing the Association Agreement with the EU. These include 19 categories of goods, including meat, wine, cereals, sugar, fruits and furniture. In 2014, Moldovan exports to Russia decreased by 32.9 per cent and its share in the total exports dropped to 18.1 per cent. The imports from Russia dropped nine per cent.

 (Reporter V. Berco, Editor L. Alcaza)