Onions and shallots market in Moldova

Earlier Report Observations

The market for fresh onions in Moldova expanded to 58 912 t in 2019, up from 54 000 t the previous year. This growth was interrupted in 2020 when consumption fell to 53 705 t. That year, new regulations on chilled and refrigerated raw materials in meat processing (HG624/2020) came into force, which tightened supply chain requirements and likely affected the handling and availability of fresh vegetables.

A sharper contraction followed in 2021, with the market dropping to 43 077 t. The market rebounded in 2022, reaching 48 309 t, driven by an oversupply from local households that increased availability and put downward pressure on prices. Simultaneously, general fire defense rules (HG847/2022) and technical regulations on packaging, transport, and storage introduced stricter conditions for marketing fresh onions.

In 2023, the market surged to 61 719 t, a 28% increase from the prior year. This expansion occurred alongside the continued enforcement of food storage and trade regulations (HG206/2023), which provided a stable framework for market operations. The strong growth reflected a significant rise in domestic production, which reached 66 620 t.

Production onions and shallots in Moldova

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

World map of production of onions and shallots, 2017-2020

In 2020, Moldova produced 48 746 tonnes of onions and shallots, marking a slight decrease of 2.3% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production declined by 10.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 43 919 tonnes. That same year saw the largest decline of 19.0%, while 2019 experienced the most significant increase of 13.6%.

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

Exports onions and shallots from Moldova

Exports in kind, t

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the observed period. Between the minimum in 2020 and the maximum in 2017, there was a 9.6-fold variation. In 2020, Moldova's cross-border shipments of onions and shallots amounted to 481 tonnes, representing a sharp decrease of 88.0% compared to 2019. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a growth of 192.4%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, two markets—Romania and Russia—played leading roles in exports by volume, together accounting for 80.6% of total flows, while the remainder was distributed among other destinations.

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 reached their lowest point in 2020 after hitting their maximum in 2019, with an 8.6-fold swing between these years. In 2020, Moldova's onions and shallots exports totaled 130 thousand US dollars, indicating a reduction of 88.4% compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 1 125 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 128.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romania (49.7% of exports in value terms), Russia (27.0%), and North Macedonia (12.3%) were the main destinations in the geographical breakdown of Moldova's onions and shallots exports by value, with a combined share of 89.0% 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 onions and shallots to Moldova

Imports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Import volumes bottomed out in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with a top-to-bottom ratio of 10.5 times. In 2020, cross-border shipments of onions and shallots to Moldova amounted to 5 440 tonnes, down by 58.2% year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 13 029 tonnes, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a growth of 824.0%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Russia (39.9% of imports in kind), Ukraine (21.1%), and Uzbekistan (9.3%) formed the core of imports by volume, together taking 70.3% of total 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

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Imports varied by 14-fold from a low in 2017 to a high in 2019. In 2020, Moldova imported a total of 3 149 thousand US dollars of onions and shallots, constituting a sharp decrease of 45.5% over the past year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 5 777 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a growth of 866.6%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Russia (38.8% of imports in value terms), Ukraine (15.9%), and the Netherlands (10.9%) played leading roles in imports by value of onions and shallots to Moldova, jointly accounting for 65.5% 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