Moldova has expanded its presence in Northern Europe: The company Agrodenidan, a member of Moldova Fruct, shipped its first 20-ton batch of Gala apples to Iceland. This marks the beginning of exports to a new and demanding market.
The contract, finalized after more than a year of negotiations, provides for deliveries of about 300 tons of apples by April 2026, including 100 tons under Iceland's school program. Access to this program confirms compliance with strict food safety and quality standards.
Agrodenidan manages over 60 hectares of super-intensive orchards, equipped with hail and rain protection nets, modern cooling facilities, and sorting lines. The company produces around 4,000 tons of apples and 150 tons of cherries annually, supplying the EU and other international markets. According to managing director Denis Vornices, breaking into Iceland demonstrates that Moldovan apples meet strict quality requirements and can compete even where imports have long been dominated by established suppliers.
The start of deliveries is also linked to the EFTA Free Trade Agreement (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein), which came into full effect on April 1, 2025. Moldova Fruct director Iurie Fală called the deal a strategic step that could open doors to other EFTA countries.
In the 2023–2024 season, Moldova exported approximately 133,000 tons of apples to more than 30 countries, up from 124,000 tons the previous year. From January to April 2025, exports declined to 105,000–110,000 tons, with Romania accounting for the bulk, approximately 90% of Moldova's EU shipments. Other destinations include Sweden, the UK, and Israel. Moldova also resumed exports to Ukraine, sending 506 tons in the first four months of 2025.
Despite lower volumes, the average export price in April 2025 was 21% higher than a year earlier, helping offset the decline.
Source: www.moldpres.md