Moldova Warns of Grain Market Collapse Amid Cheap Ukrainian Imports
The Forța Fermierilor Association in Moldova is calling on the authorities to reinstate licensing for cereal and oilseed imports from Ukraine, citing a potential collapse of the grain market and threat to Moldovan exports to Romania.
The association's experts warn that cheap Ukrainian cereals could flood the local market, leading to a sharp price drop and putting additional pressure on Moldovan farmers already facing high production costs and subsidy difficulties.
According to the Farmers' Power Association, Ukrainian cereal prices have fallen by 30-40% in recent weeks due to export blockages through the port of Odessa, with traders buying wheat from Ukrainian farmers at prices between 1.6 and 1.8 lei/kg.
The association fears that an influx of cheap Ukrainian grain could lead Romania to restrict imports of Moldovan agricultural products, echoing a similar scenario in 2023 when Moldovan farmers were forced to sell below cost price due to imports from Ukraine.