OREANDA-NEWS. April 06, 2012. In 2011 Moldova exported to Russia alcohol products at a sum of USD 47,9 mln., 23% down in monetary terms as compared with 2010.

Russia has ranked the 1st among importers of wines and brandies made in Moldova in 2011. It has occupied 26,9% of the total export from Moldova. At the same time, this share declined from 35,4% in 2010 to 26,9% in 2011. Russia is followed by Belarus (21,7% of the total export of Moldova), Ukraine (18%), Kazakhstan (9,5%).

Before the wine embargo in 2006, Russia imported about 80% of total volume so f wines, brandies and sparkling wines made in Moldova. For example in 2005 Moldova exported to Russia alcohol products at a sum of USD 234,92 mln., thai is 74,8% of the total export, which made up then USD 314,26 mln.

At the end of March Russia banned deliveries of wines and brandies from Moldova since pesticides and heavy metals were announced to be discovered in them. Later, in 2007, the Presidents of Russia and Moldova arranged to recommence the deliveries within the one-window system under the tougher quality control condition.

However, Moldova failed to reach the before-embargo level of its deliveries due to the niche of its wines and brandies had been occupied by wines made in other countries. Whereas earlier Moldovan wines were presented in the low-price segment and competed with wines of Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria, now their price starts from 130 rubles and this price category includes wines from nearly all over the world and rivalry is much tougher in this segment. Besides, winemakers of Moldova are facing problems with exporting their products to Russia and placing them in the market due to a limited number of customs terminals and, as a result, doubled transport expenses.