Moldova Trade Deficit Widens as Exports Fall

Moldova’s trade deficit widened to USD 636.2 million in August 2026, up from USD 556.6 million a year earlier, reversing a three-month trend of consecutive narrowing. Imports rose 6.5% year-on-year to USD 947.4 million, while exports fell 6.4% to USD 311.2 million. For the January-August period, the trade gap widened to USD 5,140.9 million from USD 4,631.1 million in the same period last year, as exports rose 14.1% and imports increased 12.0%. Over the period, the European Union accounted for 66.6% of total exports and 53.6% of total imports.

Moldova’s trade deficit widened to USD 613.4 million in July 2026, from USD 558.1 million in the same month a year earlier, although the deficit narrowed for a third consecutive month. Imports rose 8.1% year-on-year to USD 978.2 million, driven by higher purchases from CIS countries (11.6%) and European Union countries (1.8%). Meanwhile, exports increased 5.1% to USD 364.8 million, supported by a 45.8% surge in shipments to CIS countries, while exports to European Union countries declined 1.8%. For the January-July period, the trade gap widened to USD 4,504.7 million from USD 4,072.8 million in the same period last year, as exports rose 17.6% and imports increased 12.9%.

Moldova’s trade deficit widened to USD 620.9 million in June 2026 from USD 586.9 million in the corresponding month a year earlier, though it marked the lowest deficit in five months. Imports rose 9.8% year-on-year to USD 936.6 million, driven by higher purchases from CIS countries (35.1%), EU countries (9.4%), and other markets (9.2%). Meanwhile, exports increased 18.7% to USD 315.7 million, supported by higher shipments to CIS countries (15.2%), EU countries (19.5%), and other markets (17.2%). For the January-June period, the trade gap widened to USD 3,891.3 million from USD 3,515 million in the same period last year, as exports rose 20.3% and imports increased 13.7%.