InfoMarket Business News Agency morning review based on the previous business day: key news, important economic indicators and upcoming events. Available by subscription: plus@infomarket.md // +373 79 119 100 // Every day at 7 a.m. - in your inbox.
Macroeconomics
• Fitch Ratings affirmed Moldova's sovereign rating at B+ with a stable outlook, but lowered its 2026 GDP growth forecast from 2.9% to 1.7%. The agency expects the current account deficit to average 18.2% of GDP in 2026-2028 and public debt to reach 43.3% of GDP by 2028.
• Freight transport increased by 20.6% in the first half of the year to 10.2 million tonnes, while freight turnover rose by 14.4% to 2.8 billion tonne-km. Rail freight increased by 23.2% to 1.26 million tonnes, with freight turnover up 30.8%.
External Economy and Trade
• Moldova's trade deficit reached EUR 3.34 billion in the first half of the year, up 3.7% year-on-year. The largest deficits were recorded in trade with Romania - EUR 723.8 million - and China - EUR 680.9 million.
• The government plans to temporarily introduce grain import licensing through October 31 to protect domestic producers. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan acknowledged the risk of higher raw-material costs for the milling, baking, livestock and oil-and-fat industries; the mechanism is to be discussed on August 26.
Government Regulation
• Parliament passed in the second reading the draft law on the crypto-asset market: the CNPF will regulate and license service providers, while the NBM will supervise electronic-money tokens. The law will enter into force six months after publication; sanctions for legal entities may reach tens of millions of euros or 15% of turnover.
• The Ministry of Finance is discussing a new tax and customs regime for foreign e-commerce parcels: from October 1, consignments worth up to EUR 150 are expected to be subject to 20% VAT, while from 2027 an additional fixed fee of 12 lei per parcel may be introduced. Processing, storage, customs clearance and parcel traceability are also under discussion.
• Parliament adopted the new State Aid Act: it introduces prior notification of support measures, a Central Registry of de minimis aid and publication of information on individual state aid exceeding the equivalent of EUR 100,000.
Banks and Finance
• The CNPF issued the Moldova International Stock Exchange a market operator license and permits for a regulated market and a multilateral trading facility. The largest qualified shareholders are the Bucharest Stock Exchange (26.67%) and the Public Property Agency (20%); the official launch is scheduled for September 28.
• The M3 money supply rose by 13.4% year-on-year in July to 202.21 billion lei, while the monetary base decreased by 1.1% month-on-month to 84.64 billion lei. Cash disbursements from bank teller windows exceeded cash receipts by 713 million lei in July.
Investments and Projects
• The EBRD will provide an EUR 11 million tranche for the rehabilitation of the Chisinau-Cainari railway section; the total amount of the loan agreement remains EUR 23 million. The funds will be used for goods needed for the works and payment for consulting services already rendered.
• The government intends to allocate 61.97 million lei (EUR 3.13 million) to Arena Națională for the next payment under the PPP agreement; due to the euro exchange rate, an additional approximately 2 million lei may be required. The draft resolution is on the agenda of the August 26 government meeting.
• The Ministry of Environmental Protection signed the first two contracts worth EUR 5.5 million for waste-management infrastructure in the Nisporeni, Ungheni and Calarasi districts: EUR 3.2 million for two transfer stations and EUR 2.3 million for containers.
Agriculture
• Moldova's 2026 wine-grape harvest is expected to be 10-15% higher than last year; the indicative purchase-price range discussed is 6.8-8.2 lei/kg. The total vineyard area decreased from 117,500 hectares in 2021 to 107,200 hectares in 2025.
• Apple production in 2026 is forecast at 526,000 tonnes (+18%); about 145,000 tonnes are planned for export and around 325,000 tonnes for processing. Moldova Fruct warns of pressure from high inventories in the EU and competition in third-country markets.
Day in Figures
• 1.7% - Fitch's GDP growth forecast for Moldova in 2026.
• EUR 3.34 billion - trade deficit in the first half of the year.
• 10.2 million tonnes - freight transported in January-June (+20.6%).
• 202.21 billion lei - M3 money supply in July (+13.4% year-on-year).
• EUR 11 million - new EBRD tranche for the Chisinau-Cainari railway section.
• 61.97 million lei - planned state payment to Arena Națională.
• EUR 5.5 million - value of the first two contracts for the waste-management system in three districts.
• 526,000 tonnes - forecast apple harvest in 2026 (+18%).
AGENDA
• On August 26 at 10:00, the government will hold a meeting; the agenda includes amendments to the Single Programming Document for 2025-2027, rules for agricultural and forestry machinery, and other draft decisions.
• On August 26, the government intends to consider temporary grain import licensing through October 31 and the draft allocation of 61.97 million lei to Arena Națională for the next payment under the PPP agreement.