Moldovan apples reach Icelandic market for first time

The Republic of Moldova is expanding its commercial horizons into the Nordic market. Agrodenidan company, a member of Moldova Fruct Association, has recently shipped its first batch of Moldovan apples to Iceland, consisting of 20 tons of Gala apples, marking the beginning of exports to a new and demanding market.

The contract, resulting from over a year of negotiations, stipulates that by April 2026, about 300 tons of apples are to be delivered to Iceland, of which 100 tons will be distributed as part of a school program. This demonstrates both the quality and safety of Moldovan fruits, validated by their integration into a program for children.

Fruit sector representatives view the export to Iceland as both a symbolic and strategic step forward.


“This delivery is significant and represents the first step in harnessing the opportunities offered by the Free Trade Agreement with EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein), which fully came into force on April 1, 2025,” said Iurie Fală, executive director of Moldova Fruct Association.


Agrodenidan company manager Denis Vornices emphasized that access to the Icelandic market, known for its longstanding monopoly on fruit supply, confirms the ability of Moldovan apples to meet strict quality and safety standards.


“The Icelandic market is a difficult one to access, with a longstanding monopoly in fruit supply. The fact that we secured this contract not only proves the quality of Moldovan apples but also our ability to penetrate demanding markets. The collaboration provides the company with stability, a fair price, and confirms that our production can meet the high demands of Icelandic consumers. Additionally, Agrodenidan company holds GlobalG.A.P. and GRASP certifications, facilitating access to markets where these standards are mandatory,” said Denis Vornices.


With over 60 hectares of super-intensive orchards equipped with anti-hail and anti-rain nets, modern refrigerators, and sorting lines, Agrodenidan produces about 4,000 tons of apples and 150 tons of cherries annually, successfully exported to European Union markets and other countries.

The launch of exports to Iceland confirms the potential of Moldovan producers to compete in demanding markets, strengthening the image of the Republic of Moldova as a provider of quality agro-food products internationally.

In the 2023–2024 season, Moldova exported about 133,000 tons of apples to over 30 countries. This is an increase compared to the 2022–2023 season when 124,000 tons were exported. From January to April 2025, exports were at 105-110,000 tons, a significantly lower amount than in the previous season. In March 2025, apple exports reached 19,000 tons, a 43% increase compared to February. Romania remains the most important destination within the European Union, absorbing most of Moldova's exports to the EU. In the 2023-2024 season, Romania received 90% of the total export to the EU. Other EU destinations include Sweden, the United Kingdom, Israel, etc. Exports to CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries saw a reduction, with these countries' share decreasing in the total structure. Notably, exports to Ukraine resumed: in the first four months of 2025, Moldova delivered 506 tons of apples to its neighboring country.

In April 2025, the average price of exported apples increased by 21% compared to the same period last year, partially compensating for the reduction in exported volume.