Milk and cream market in Moldova

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2024, Moldova's milk and cream production fell by more than 300 thousand tons, driven primarily by a sharp, long-term reduction in the dairy cow herd. The number of cows had dropped fourfold over two decades, severely undermining the raw material base for processors. At the same time, the production structure shifted: output from farms increased, but milk from individual households, which once contributed significantly, nearly disappeared. This transition resulted in a sustained decline in total domestic output.

The contraction in local production was accompanied by growing reliance on imports, particularly from Ukraine, which supplied 62% of processed raw material by 2024. Ukrainian producers came to dominate the market, pressuring local companies. In response, Moldovan players like the market leader JLC S.A. continued to develop new products and maintain their presence. In 2023, AGROSERV MĂRIUȚA S.A. entered the kefir segment by launching probiotic products and expanded its cheese production capacity, illustrating attempts to diversify amid the overall downturn.

Early in the period, Moldovan authorities pursued access to the EU market by implementing strict food safety standards like HACCP, which supported production levels in 2018. However, in subsequent years, high production costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and low purchase prices challenged farmers. Consumers became more sophisticated and informed, yet the total market volume for milk and cream kept declining, reflecting both the production slump and evolving consumption patterns.

Production milk and cream in Moldova

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Moldova's milk and cream production has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 456.1 thousand tons of milk and cream, marking a slight decrease of 2.2% compared to the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 29.6%, which translates to an average annual decline of 11.0%.

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

Exports milk and cream from Moldova

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 65-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Moldova's milk and cream exports totaled 8 tons, representing a 36.1% drop from the previous year.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romania accounted for nearly all of Moldova's milk and cream exports in kind, with a share of 96.2% of total 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

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 35-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Moldova's cross-border shipments of milk and cream amounted to 6 thousand US dollars, showing a decrease of 45.0% compared to 2019.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Moldova's milk and cream exports in value terms were almost entirely tied to Romania, which accounted for 92.6% of total 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 milk and cream to Moldova

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year decrease, foreign milk and cream supplies to Moldova increased. In 2020, imports reached 20 206 tons, marking an uptick of 33.5% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 13.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.8%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 15 138 tons, which also saw the largest decline of 31.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, two leading markets—Romania and Ukraine—together accounted for 90.4% of total imports in kind, while the remaining volume was dispersed across a wide range of other countries.

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

After a two-year fall, milk and cream imports to Moldova increased. In 2020, Moldova imported a total of value_last_year thousand US dollars of milk and cream, up by 34.2% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 27.6%, equating to an 8.5% annualized rate. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 8 510 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 2.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romania (45.1% of imports in value terms), Ukraine (33.2% of imports in value terms), and Poland (8.3% of imports in value terms) made the biggest contribution to imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 86.7% of total flows.

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

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