Moldova, like several other Black Sea countries, is expecting a strong potato harvest this year. However, prices have already dropped to their lowest level in three years, leaving farmers with little hope of profit, reports Logos Press.
According to Sergey Alba from IM Expert Agroteh, many specialized farms harvested 70–80 tons per hectare. This means that even large producers alone have tens of thousands of tons of potatoes available for the market. Despite a steady decline in planted area, from 24,000 hectares five years ago to about 15,000 hectares today, Moldova's 2025 production is still expected to exceed 200,000 tons, with at least two-thirds suitable for sale.
Currently, wholesale purchase prices for Moldovan farmers are around 4.5–5.5 lei per kilo (€0.23–0.28). In September last year, prices were about 50% higher.
In Ukraine, traders offer even less, roughly 3.1–3.2 lei per kilo (€0.16–0.17). Still, cheaper Ukrainian potatoes are unlikely to enter the Moldovan market soon due to high transport costs.
Many Moldovan farmers are placing large volumes in storage, hoping for better prices during the colder months.
Source: logos-pres.md