Evaluation of the national apricot market and perspectives on its expansion into global markets

Agriculture is the most widespread activity on the territory of Moldova, and fruit growing has enormous development perspectives, since climatic conditions are quite favorable for the development of this sector. Apricots are appreciated for their sweet taste and nutritional properties, being rich in vitamins A and C, fiber and antioxidants. In the Republic of Moldova, apricots are cultivated on around 5,000 hectares, placing the country among the world's top 20 exporters of apricots in recent years. In 2024, Moldova set a record in apricot exports, delivering 12,000 tons, up from 4,000 tons in 2023 and 7,500 tons in 2022. More than 10,000 tons were exported to Western markets, notably Poland, Romania, Croatia, the Netherlands, Germany and Slovenia. This significant growth is due to a good harvest and increased demand from the EU. The aim of the paper is to analyze the trends in the development and diversification of apricot markets and the prospects for the development of this sector. The results of the research highlight the challenges for fruit producers, namely the need to diversify export markets and strengthen the position in target markets; educating producers and exporters in the implementation of quality standards and the development of the horticultural sector based on innovations.