Moldova will continue to assist Ukraine with grain transit

Moldova intends to continue facilitating the transit of Ukrainian grain through its territory despite concerns raised by local farmers. President Maia Sandu backed the government’s decision to ease transportation of Ukrainian agricultural products, stressing that maintaining export opportunities remains critical for Ukraine.

From August 10 through December 31, 2026, Moldova is providing a 50% discount on rail transit tariffs for Ukrainian cargoes. The route is becoming increasingly important for Ukraine’s agricultural exports amid disruptions to maritime shipments and the need to make greater use of alternative logistics corridors.

According to the Moldovan government, Ukraine plans to route around 6 mln tons of cargo through this direction, while Moldova aims to attract about 10% of that volume. This means around 600 thsd tons of Ukrainian cargo could potentially transit the country.

At the same time, the expansion of Ukrainian transit has raised concerns among Moldovan farmers. Agricultural organizations are seeking guarantees that Ukrainian products will remain in transit and will not put additional pressure on the domestic market. Moldovan authorities say they need to find a mechanism that supports Ukrainian exports while protecting the interests of local producers.

Sandu stressed that Moldova cannot refuse to help Ukraine with transit, as the ability to sell agricultural products directly affects revenues for Ukrainian exporters. At the same time, the government expects increased transit volumes to generate several million euros in additional revenue for Moldova’s railway.

Tags: Moldova, transit, Ukraine, grain