Vladimir Bolea on Ukrainian grain transit: "We support it and profit from the CFM"
Chisinau is prepared to facilitate the transit of 4.5 million tons of Ukrainian grain to Romania using Moldovan railways. However, a final decision will depend on ongoing negotiations between the two parties. The government aims to transform this transportation into a profitable commercial venture for the state budget.
“We stand in solidarity and intervene swiftly when Ukraine needs to transport its goods due to recent attacks on land and naval logistics,” declared Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, after the Executive meeting on August 12.
The official assured that the cereals would not remain in the Republic of Moldova but would only transit through the country to Romanian ports.
The minister also emphasized that the support provided to Ukraine would benefit Moldovan Railways (CFM), helping to offset the losses incurred over the past three years.
“The transit allowed by the Republic of Moldova between 2022 and 2023 generated hundreds of millions of lei. Consequently, CFM ended 2024 with losses exceeding 300 million lei and an approximate deficit of 80 million lei in 2025. However, in the first six months of this year, CFM returned to profitability, reporting a profit of 17 million lei,” stated Vladimir Bolea.
The Republic of Moldova is currently reviewing Ukraine's request for grain transit via its domestic railway to the Port of Constanța. Any final decision will depend on mutual economic benefits, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
Authorities in Chișinău are approaching the situation from two interconnected perspectives: on one hand, they wish to support Ukraine through the mechanisms of the "Solidarity Corridors," and on the other, they aim to maximize economic benefits for Moldova.
In this context, any tariff reductions granted for additional grain volumes would generate extra income for the Moldovan Railway (CFM).
Officials emphasize that this is not about establishing a permanent reduced tariff, but rather a temporary measure. This approach serves as a response to the repeated attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian infrastructure and logistics routes.
Ukraine is preparing a new rail corridor through the Republic of Moldova for grain exports to the Port of Constanța, with the goal of reducing dependence on maritime transport, which has become increasingly vulnerable to military risks. Ukraine has requested a 50% reduction in rail transit tariffs, estimating that the new route could direct up to 4.5 million tons of grain to Romania annually.
