Ministry of Infrastructure provides clarification on transit of Ukrainian goods

The rail transit of Ukrainian goods through the Republic of Moldova will not be carried out to the detriment of Moldovan farmers and exporters, states the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIDR), in the context of concerns recently expressed by representatives of the agricultural sector.

The Ministry specifies that the goods in transit are not intended for the market of the Republic of Moldova.


“The 50% reduction negotiated for rail transport applies exclusively to Ukrainian goods that cross the country’s territory and are transported to external markets,” the cited source explains.


According to MIDR, these goods remain under customs supervision until they leave the Republic of Moldova, and the shipments are registered and monitored electronically through the European NCTS system, based on customs declarations and guarantees valid up to their final destination.

The Ministry underlines that any potential decisions regarding import licensing are a separate matter and should not be confused with the tariff applied to rail transit.

According to MIDR, Ukraine intends to transport significant volumes of goods along several regional routes by the end of 2026, and the Republic of Moldova aims to attract approximately 600,000 tons from this flow.

The Ministry notes that the figure of 4.5 million tons, circulated in the public space, represents the estimated annual capacity of a potential rail corridor and not the agreed volume for the coming period.

The shipments will be organized by the Moldovan Railways (CFM) depending on infrastructure capacity, availability of rolling stock, traffic schedules, and the orders of Moldovan exporters.

MIDR states that it is constantly monitoring the situation and that the mechanism can be adjusted if delays or pressures on national exports arise.

The Ministry also rejects the concern that the 50% discount to Ukrainian transit might increase costs for Moldovan producers.

According to the institution, the preferential tariff is a separate commercial offer aimed at attracting additional cargo volumes and does not modify the tariffs applied to exporters from the Republic of Moldova.

At the same time, MIDR estimates that attracting Ukrainian transit could generate millions of euros in revenue for CFM, even under the reduced tariff. The money could contribute to the operation and development of the national rail infrastructure.

The Ministry states that the interests of Moldovan producers and exporters are among the criteria that must be taken into account in managing the mechanism and that risks are being monitored by limiting volumes, planning shipments, and coordinating with operators in Ukraine and Romania.


“At present, there is no data indicating that the mechanism has blocked Moldovan exports, increased costs for local producers, or allowed the sale on the domestic market of goods declared in transit,” MIDR specifies.


The institution announces that it will continue dialogue with farmers and exporters and will communicate data on transported volumes, used rail capacity, and any operational difficulties.

According to the Ministry, the Republic of Moldova can support Ukraine’s logistics, generate revenue for CFM, and at the same time protect the interests of domestic producers, provided that transit is managed within real capacity limits and based on monitored data.