Bread market in Moldova

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, a reduced wheat harvest due to drought led to higher wheat prices, increasing bread production costs and contributing to a production value of 212 million USD on a market volume of 124.6 thousand tonnes. By 2019, market volume grew to 127.3 thousand tonnes while production value fell to 191 million USD. The market volume then dropped to 120 thousand tonnes in 2020.

Recovery followed in 2021 with market volume reaching 128.3 thousand tonnes and value rising to 265.6 million USD. However, 2022 brought geopolitical tensions from the war in Ukraine, which disrupted supply chains, raised energy and raw material prices, and fueled inflation. This caused market volume to contract to 116.5 thousand tonnes, while value increased to 272.8 million USD due to higher prices. In 2023, volume partially rebounded to 124.3 thousand tonnes, and value continued climbing to 328.9 million USD, reflecting sustained price growth.

Bread imports into Moldova steadily increased from 5.5 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 12.6 thousand tonnes in 2024, while exports grew from 1.8 thousand tonnes to 3.5 thousand tonnes over the same period. In 2024, consumption data from Chișinău showed a strong preference for bread compared to other food items. Additionally, the EU's introduction of import quotas on Ukrainian wheat could influence Moldova's bread market by altering trade flows.

Production bread in Moldova

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Moldova ranked as the 15th largest producer of bread worldwide.

Top producers of bread, 2017-2020

World map of production of bread, 2017-2020

In 2020, Moldova produced 115.3 thousand tons of bread, marking a moderate decline of 6.1% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 5.6%, with an average annual decline of 1.9%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 122.8 thousand tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 1.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Moldova in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Moldova's bread production value declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 190.0 million US dollars, showing minimal change from the previous year. The peak value occurred in 2018 at 212.0 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 10.2%. The most significant decline was recorded in 2019 at 9.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Moldova in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports bread from Moldova

Exports in kind, t

Bread exports from Moldova increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, Moldova exported 1 892 tons of bread, reflecting negligible variation from the previous year. The lowest export volume was in 2018 at 1 767 tons, which also saw the largest annual decline of 5.3%. The most substantial increase occurred in 2019 at 6.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Moldova in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the leading destinations for Moldova's bread exports in volume terms were Germany (23.5% of exports), Romania (22.4% of exports), and the United States (16.8% of exports). Together, these three countries accounted for 62.7% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Moldova in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Moldova exported 3 118 thousand US dollars worth of bread, up by 6.1% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 6.3%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 2.1%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 5.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Moldova in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, Romania (23.5% of exports in value terms), Germany (21.4% of exports in value terms), and the United States (18.4% of exports in value terms) formed the core group of markets for Moldova's bread exports. Collectively, they represented 63.3% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Moldova in value, 2017-2020

Imports bread to Moldova

Imports in kind, t

Moldova's bread imports rose for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 6 582 tons, a 2.7% increase from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 40.8%, with an average annual increase of 12.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Moldova in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the primary sources for Moldova's bread imports in volume terms were Ukraine (52.3% of imports), Romania (16.5% of imports), and Russia (15.4% of imports). Together, these three countries accounted for 84.2% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Moldova in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Foreign bread supplies to Moldova increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 14 609 thousand US dollars, indicating a 6.3% advance from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 51.5%, with an average annual growth rate of 14.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Moldova in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Ukraine (45.4% of imports in value terms), Romania (16.7% of imports in value terms), and Russia (12.4% of imports in value terms) remained the principal suppliers of bread to Moldova. Jointly, they accounted for 74.5% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Moldova in value, 2017-2020