Moldovan apple growers face tight margins amid low prices and rising costs

Apple growers in Moldova are facing rising production costs amid low procurement prices, significantly limiting the profitability of fruit farms. According to AgroExpert, farmers are being forced to continue harvesting despite minimal profit margins, as fuel, electricity and labor costs remain high. A grower from the town of Lipcani reported that buyers are currently offering just 1.80–1.90 Moldovan lei/kg for apples, while a ton of diesel fuel costs around 36 thsd lei.

At these price levels, a farmer would need to sell approximately 19–20 tons of apples to purchase one ton of diesel fuel. Meanwhile, harvesting costs alone amount to around 0.50 lei/kg, or more than a quarter of the current selling price. The farm needs approximately 14 workers to harvest its crop, adding to financial pressure. Producers also have to cover orchard maintenance, taxes and transportation expenses.

Despite the challenging economic conditions, apple growers are trying to complete harvesting before cold weather arrives. According to the farmer, leaving fruit on the trees is not economically viable, as it would mean losing money already invested in production. As a result, farms continue harvesting and placing apples into storage, hoping to sell them at more favorable prices later.

A potential increase in energy prices during the winter is another risk for producers. Higher electricity and fuel costs could increase expenses for apple storage and subsequent sales. With procurement prices remaining low, a substantial share of farm revenue is used to cover operating expenses, leaving limited financial resources for equipment upgrades and production development.

Developments in Moldova’s apple market highlight the widening gap between selling prices and production costs. Even selling the entire harvest does not always guarantee sufficient profitability for growers. Under these conditions, key priorities for the sector include optimizing harvesting and storage costs, improving production efficiency and finding marketing channels that offer better prices for high-quality apples.

Tags: Moldova, apples