The wholesale price for the Moldova variety grapes increased by an average of 1 lei/kg up to 9-12 lei/kg ($0.51-0.68/kg) on the Moldovan market during the last week of February. The rise in price is noted for the first time since the end of January this year.
Experts from winegrower associations point out the only significant reason for the rise in prices for these products was an increase in demand for Moldovan grapes in Romania. This was an unexpected phenomenon for this time of the year. Traders suggest it may be an attempt by Romanian consumers to replenish their diet with fresh fruits at a time when new crops of fruit and berry products are still scarce and expensive. Also, it should be taken into account that the Romanian food market was in cost-saving mode last autumn so the demand for expensive fruits was not very high. Towards the end of winter though, fatigue from restrictions of all kinds had accumulated.
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In addition, it is necessary to take into account that a new annual quota of 15,000 tons for duty-free exports of table grapes from Moldova to the European Union began to operate at the start of 2021. Experts from winegrower associations note that in the process of deliveries to the CIS markets, if traders-exporters tend to underestimate invoices, then this is not typical for deliveries to the European market.
At the end of February 2020, prices for Moldova variety grapes for exports were almost twice as high at 19-21 lei/kg ($1.08-1.20/kg). Market operators claim the main reason for the low prices for Moldovan grapes of the 2020 harvest this season is the relatively low quality due to drought. Currently, exporters consider berries not too small in size and more or less high turgor to be acceptable quality.
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