Moldova’s Exports of Oil Products Sharply Increased, Outpacing Wines and Spirits

In April, 2022 there was a real boom of oil products export from Moldova. This is evidenced by the data of the National Bureau of Statistics. Thus, in April 2022 the export of oil, petroleum products and related products amounted to more than 47 million dollars or about 12% of total exports from Moldova. Previously, the share of this type of goods in exports barely exceeded one percent, mold-street.com reports. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in the first four months of this year exports of oil, petroleum products and related products increased 4.7 times compared to the same period in 2021 and amounted to more than $ 57 million. In particular, diesel fuel, which is a scarce commodity in the region as a result of the war in Ukraine, was exported. As a result, fuel exports exceeded supplies of wine and other alcoholic beverages by more than 20% during this period and reached a share of 4% of exports. This spike can be explained by the supply of oil products to Ukraine, after they were originally imported to Moldova. In April, Moldovan export to Ukraine actually increased several times. Note that because of the war the neighboring country is forced to import and export most of its goods in transit through Moldova. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics also show that in the first four months of this year, imports of oil, oil products and related products increased 2.2 times and amounted to about $320 million, or 11.4% of total imports. Only gas imports exceeded oil imports, amounting to nearly $373 million, or 13.3% of total imports. Thus, compared with January-April 2022, methane purchases in the first four months of this year increased by 3.8 times. Point