Moldova Industrial Output Rebounds Strongly

Industrial production in Moldova jumped 12.3% year-on-year in March 2026, rebounding sharply from an upwardly revised 2.6% decline in the previous month. This marked the biggest gain since October 2025, driven by a strong recovery in manufacturing output (12.7% vs -3.8% in February) and mining production (16.4% vs -37.6%), as well as a notable increase in electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply (9.5% vs 4.1%). Within the manufacturing industry, most subsectors contributed positively, led by fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (71.4% vs 13.0%), vegetable and animal oils and fats (62.7% vs -51.5%), and furniture (31.9% vs -11.2%). On a monthly basis, industrial output surged 19.1%, following a downwardly revised 2.3% rise in February. In the first quarter, industrial production grew 6.1%.

Industrial production in Moldova fell 2.5% year-on-year in February 2026, slipping from a downwardly revised 8.0% increase in the previous month. This marked the lowest level of industrial activity since January 2025, as output declined in the manufacturing sector (-3.7% vs 5.2% in January), driven by steeper drops in beverages (-16.1% vs -13%), chemicals and chemical products (-20.9% vs -4.8%), computer, electronic, and optical products (-68.8% vs -38.9%), electrical equipment (-28.3% vs -7.9%), machinery and equipment (-39.6% vs -0.6%), and furniture (-10.9% vs -7.9%). Output growth in electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply also moderated sharply to 4.1% from 21.5%. Meanwhile, production in mining and quarrying contracted at a softer pace (-36.6% vs -63.7%). On a monthly basis, industrial output increased 2.4% in February, rebounding from a 25.4% fall in the preceding month. Considering the first two months of the year, industrial production grew 2.4%.

Industrial production in Moldova rose 8.6% year-on-year in January 2026, easing from a 9.3% increase in the previous month. Growth in the manufacturing sector slowed (5.9% vs 19.3% in December 2025), with softer output in food products (16.3% vs 28%), beverages (-13% vs 79.6%), textiles (15% vs 29.1%), rubber and plastic products (0.9% vs 28.7%), and electrical equipment (-7.9% vs 6.1%). Production also declined sharply in mining and quarrying (-63.4% vs 42.8%). Meanwhile, activity recovered in electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply (21.5% vs -8.4%). On a monthly basis, industrial output plunged 25.2%, reversing a 13.7% increase in the previous period and marking the weakest reading since January 2022.