European Union's share in Moldovan exports to hit historical maximum in 2017

Chisinau, 7 December /MOLDPRES/ - The share of the European Union in Moldova’s exports will reach a historical maximum of 69.9 per cent in 2017, slightly above the level recorded by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in 1997, according to an economic expert at the Viitorul (Future) Institute, Veaceslav Ionita. Official statistics shows that the quota of Moldovan goods’ exports to EU has been increasing the fifth year in a row.

The National Statistics Bureau (BNS) today unveiled data on the foreign trade in the first ten months of this year. “The exports registered a significant rise against the previous month, which makes us believe that, till late 2017, they will reach the level of 2.420 billion dollars,” Ionita noted. He also said that this growth was due almost exclusively to the increase of supplies to the European Union.    

Official statistics shows that the exports of goods made in October 2017 amounted to 268.2 million dollars, up by 33.6 per cent against the same period of the last year. The advancement was of 17.5 per cent in January-October.  

The exports of goods meant for European Union countries grew by 19.9 per cent in the first ten months of this year against the same period of 2016, up to 1,254.6 million dollars. At the same time, the deliveries to the CIS market increased more slowly, by 10.7 per cent, up to 380 million dollars.   

The increase of overall exports in the first ten months of 2017 is above expectations of analysts and Economics and Infrastructure Ministry, who forecast a 10-15-per cent growth in 2017. The Economics and Infrastructure Ministry forecasts a 15-per cent increase in exports this year, up to 2,350 million dollars. According to the ministry, the factors which will contribute to the gradual increase in exports on the forecast period are: re-establishment of the external demand, domestic supply of farming products, qualitative enhancement of exports, especially due to investments made in the extension and renewal of the technological basis, and, respectively, Moldovan goods’ integration in international flows.    

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor M. Jantovan)