Moldova reports record rapeseed exports to the EU market

The Republic of Moldova sets new records in rapeseed exports, becoming the second largest supplier of this crop to the European Union. The MY 2025/26 was truly historic for Moldovan farmers, demonstrating unprecedented growth in both export volumes and income from rapeseed sales.

According to the data, in the period from July to November 2025, Moldova exported 286,623 tons of rapeseed, which is 3.25 times higher than the volume of the same period of the previous year. This result is also 11.7% higher than the previous record. This dynamics indicates the achievement of maturity in the rapeseed production and export chain, which makes this crop important for the country’s trade balance.

The growth in export volumes has significantly affected the income of the agricultural sector. Rapeseed exports brought in 2.589 billion lei, which is 3.29 times more than in the same period in 2024. The average price of rapeseed was 9.03 lei per kilogram, which, although close to last year’s level, is more than 20% higher than the prices of the record season.

The European market also felt the impact of Moldovan rapeseed. The country provided 15% of the total EU rapeseed imports, compared to 3.2% in the previous season. The main importers were Romania and Bulgaria, which together accounted for 93% of Moldovan exports.

Despite the successes, the structure of exports remains problematic. Of the total volume of more than 325,000 tons delivered in the current season, 88% was raw rapeseed, and only 12% was processed products such as oil. This indicates a dependence on low-value-added raw material exports.

Export logistics were mainly carried out by road, which accounted for 53% of the total, followed by sea transport with 38%. Rail transport fell to 9% and stopped in October.

Economists emphasize that rapeseed has become the mainstay of Moldova’s agricultural exports. However, accelerated investment in processing and infrastructure is needed to further develop and overcome the vulnerabilities of the export structure, so that the country does not remain simply a large supplier of raw materials in the conditions of a historically successful season.

Tags: export, EU, rapeseed, Moldova