Moldova’s wine sector entered the final quarter of 2026 with a mixed record.
Between January and September, the country exported 76.6 million liters of wine and wine-based products worth USD 145.3 million, according to the National Office of Vine and Wine (ONVV), which analysed SIA ASYCUDA customs data. Volumes fell 15% and value fell 6% against the same period of 2025. Value fell far less than volume, which points to a shift toward higher-priced products.
A Decade in Perspective
The nine-month volume is the second lowest of the past ten years, just above the 76.4 million liters of 2022. It sits well below the ten-year average of 95.7 million liters and far from the 2019 peak of 113.2 million liters.
Value tells a more positive story. At USD 145.3 million, 2026 is above the ten-year average of USD 128.4 million. It is down from the record USD 167.8 million of 2024 and the USD 154.9 million of 2025, but exporters are earning more per liter than in the late 2010s. In 2017, 105.6 million liters earned USD 104.2 million, so 2026 brings in roughly 40% more revenue from about 27% less volume.
Europe Dominates, Africa Accelerates
Europe took 61% of export value (USD 88.1 million, -4%), followed by the CIS at 25% (USD 35.8 million, -4%). The biggest movers were elsewhere:
- Africa was the standout, up 69% to USD 10.7 million and a 7% share.
- America dropped 57% to USD 5.7 million.
- Asia declined 22% to USD 4.9 million.
- Oceania collapsed 94% from a negligible base.
Moldovan wine reached 72 destination countries, but concentration is high. The top ten markets account for about 80% of both export volume and value.
Romania Leads Bottled Wine
Romania is the anchor market for bottled wine, with 26% of volume and 33% of value. Nigeria, Poland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic follow. Nigeria and Ghana together reflect the growing African demand behind the regional surge. The United States, Canada, Ukraine and Germany complete the top ten.
Product Mix: Still Wine Leads, Spirits Gain
Still wines make up 78% of volume and 61% of value, but their value fell 10% to USD 88.1 million and volume fell 16% to 59.8 million liters.
- Bottled still wine: USD 56.4 million (-12%), with the average price up 7% to USD 2.12 per bottle.
- Bulk still wine: USD 31.7 million (-8%), with the average price up 9% to USD 0.80 per liter.
The strongest performers were the higher-margin categories:
- Divin/brandy: USD 40.8 million (+11%). Bottled brandy jumped 56% in value to USD 16.7 million at USD 4.24 per bottle.
- Liqueur wines: USD 8.8 million (+54%). Bottled liqueur wine grew 68% in value and 71% in volume.
Sparkling wine slipped 10% to USD 4.7 million. The weakest category was aromatized wines and vermouths, which fell 68% in value to USD 2.8 million.
Outlook
The figures suggest a sector under volume pressure but gaining on value. Growth in Africa, bottled brandy and liqueur wines offsets shrinking bulk shipments and weaker results in the Americas and Asia. The main risk is dependence on a few markets, above all Romania and the wider European and CIS region. Exporters who move toward bottled, higher-priced products and diversify across more destinations are best placed to strengthen the sector’s value performance.
Source: ONVV Marketing Intelligence