Moldova’s trade gap widens in January-May on expensive energy imports

Moldova’s trade gap widens in January-May on expensive energy imports
By bne IntelliNews July 18, 2022

Moldova’s trade gap reached $1.7bn (+8.5% y/y) or €1.55bn in January-May — 19% more compared to the same period in 2021, according to data published by the statistics bureau BNS.

The deterioration was the effect of higher prices paid by the country that is totally dependent on imports of natural gas and petroleum products. The gap would have been wider, but the exports of cereals, oilseeds and edible oil increased significantly.

Moldova’s exports, in the first five months of the year, surged by 70% y/y (+$770mn) and reached $1.88bn. A small part of the increase was due to some $100mn of oil and petroleum products imported by a CIS member country (possibly Belarus, BNS data provides no hint) through Moldova.

The largest part of the rally seen in Moldova’s exports was due to higher exports of cereals, oilseeds and vegetable oil: the combined exports surged to $710mn, in the first five months of the year from less than $160mn in the same period of 2021. The imports increased at a moderate rate and Moldova’s trade surplus for the three items increased by over $500mn to $575mn in January-May.

But the imports of energy items more than doubled to $871mn in January-May from $313mn in the same period of 2021. The natural gas imports more than tripled to $$404mn. The trade deficit for the two items (petroleum products and natural gas) soared to nearly $750mn in January-May from $300mn in the same period last year.

In May alone, Moldova’s trade deficit slightly narrowed (by 1.4% y/y) to $357mn, but it widened by 13% y/y to €337mn when expressed to euros.

Exports soared by 137% y/y to €394mn while imports rose by 58% y/y to €731mn.

Data

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