Exports of corn from Moldova to Romania have dropped due to dry weather: analysis of the data for the year 2024.

According to statistics, in the first half of 2024, Moldova exported around 264 thousand tons of corn, which represents 70% of the export volume for the same period of the previous year (more than 378 thousand tons). Each month in the first half of 2024, the volume of grain exports was lower than in the same months of previous years, as reported by bani.md.

"Such a trend can be explained by the low yield in 2024 due to extremely dry weather. In addition, at the end of 2023, the export volume was high, significantly reducing the stocks of producers and traders," noted Yuri Rizha, Executive Director of the Association of Exporters and Importers of Agricultural and Grain Products Agrocereale.

In the first half of the current year, the main destination for the export of Moldovan corn was Romania, as this country is the best transport hub for grain exports from Moldova to European countries. The share of corn exports to Romania accounts for 36.5% of the total export volume, which is approximately 96.5 thousand tons.

Following Romania are Turkey with an export volume of 39 thousand tons and Switzerland with a similar volume of about 37.3 thousand tons.

"It is important to note that there are many enterprises in Moldova engaged in corn processing, including ethanol production. According to the data, from 2021 to June 2024, a total of 138.5 million liters of alcohol and 73.3 thousand tons of DDGS were exported. Expert estimates show that approximately 374.3 thousand tons of corn are required to produce this volume of alcohol," added Yuri Rizha.