Seasonality of Fresh Imports to Moldova as compared to Fresh Exports from Moldova

SURVEY

SEASONALITY OF HVA FRESH IMPORTS TO MOLDOVA versus HVA FRESH EXPORTS FROM MOLDOVA
MAIN OBJECTIVES

To present the general status of HVA Fresh Imports Seasonality to Moldova by major importer countries; To identify the timeframes and volumes for Moldovan HVA Fresh Products presence on the external markets;

Determine the gaps in the supply of Moldovan Fresh produce on the target markets and discuss possible reasons for this failure;

To serve as baseline data for the future marketing studies to be conducted within the ADP.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Target Products: Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh Fruits: Apples, Cherries, Plums, Peaches and Table Grapes

Fresh Vegetables: Tomatoes, Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots, Onions, Peppers and Eggplants Analyzed time period: 2003 Data source: Moldovan Customs Department

The Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Import & Export, 2003

PRODUCT Fresh fruits Apples Cherries Plums Peachers Table grapes Total fresh fruits Fresh vegetables Tomatoes Cabbage Potatoes Carrots Onions Pepper Eggplants Total fresh vegetables

IMPORT EXPORT TOTAL(USD) TOTAL(Tons) TOTAL(Tons)

2,188,516 92,589 5,545 25,888 170,750 2,483,289

7,386 195 38 72 3,056

214,388 1,475 9,775 2,443 19,020

2,727,605 188,172 4,013,087 349,130 1,481,613 68,668 14,936 8,843,211

4,892 2,392 55,789 3,655 12,694 257 29

2,735 27 4 4 435 101 31

Apple Import vs Export

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct

7,250 tons

Poland

63

Romania

38

Greece

33

Russia

1.6

Germany

0.4

Italy Moldovan Export

214,388

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Table Grapes Import vs Export

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2,600

Syria

428

437

Romania

19

Turkey

920

19,020

Moldova
Moldovan Export

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Tomatoes Import vs Export

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

4,756

Turkey

135

Romania

0.5

Italy

0.4

Germany
Moldovan Export

2,735

Moldova Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dec

Cabbage Import vs Export

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2,341

Poland

23

Romania

16

Macedonia

10

Belarus

Turkey

0.8

Germany

Moldovan Export
27

Moldova Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dec

Jan

Carrots Import vs Export

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

1,762

Poland

1,695

Belarus

126

Turkey

36

Ukraine

18

Russia

11

Egypt

Romania

Italy

0.4

Germany
Moldovan Export
3

Moldova Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Onions Import vs Export

Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct
8044 2960

Nov

Dec

11,802

Poland

539

Turkey

115

Belarus

100

Egypt
82

Russia

53

Romania

1.3

Italy

0.4

Germany

435

Moldova
Moldovan Export

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Conclusions and Opinions

Lack of adequate domestic supply of fresh produce has lead to its substitution by imports. Explanation: An adequate supply means a quality supply of a wide range of products available all year-round.
Insufficiency of operational cold storages (for longer preservation of fruits) and greenhouses (for intensive production of vegetables) is the main cause for the domestic supply failure. There seems to be plenty of room on the domestic market for Moldovan producers to strive to conquer it and thus substitute for the current fresh imports. But this could only happen if Moldovan producers find themselves capable of responding to the new market requirements. Achieving this, as a first step, would prepare them better for the penetration of new export markets.