Moldova to refund excise duties as fuel prices threaten spring sowing season
The Moldovan government has announced a 140 million MDL (approx. €7.14 million) fund to compensate farmers for diesel excise duties. This move comes as the "Forța Fermierilor" Association warns of a critical fuel shortage during the peak spring sowing season.
Over 200 agricultural producers recently convened in Chisinau to report that fuel wholesalers are refusing bulk deliveries. Farmers allege that distributors are withholding stocks in anticipation of further price hikes, forcing them to refuel industrial machinery at retail stations.
Market volatility and supply constraints
Diesel prices in Moldova surged by 2.15 MDL per liter in a single week, driven by instability in the Middle East. In response, the government has maintained a state of emergency in the energy sector to ensure national stability.
To protect domestic reserves, the Customs Service has restricted fuel exports from the Giurgiulești International Free Port. Exports are only permitted if national stocks exceed 8,000 tons for gasoline and 25,000 tons for diesel.
Delayed financial relief
While the Ministry of Agriculture (MAIA) promised full reimbursement of excise duties for the sowing period, the actual payments will not reach farmers until summer. Applications for these subsidies will only open on June 1, after the current planting window closes.
State Secretary Vasile Șarban stated that the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture (AIPA) is committed to processing these claims urgently. However, farmers remain concerned that the lack of immediate liquidity and bulk fuel access could jeopardize this year's harvest.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
