---
title: "Moldova grants local grain rail priority amid import license debate"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/83639/moldova-grants-local-grain-rail-priority-amid-import-license-debate
published: 2026-08-21T03:50:19Z
language: en
author: "Alexandr Statnîi"
section: "Economic"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Moldova grants local grain rail priority amid import license debate

> Moldovan agricultural producers have secured full priority for domestic grain transport on the national rail network, the government announced following negotiations with farming associations.

[Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/MndqIOJZc94)

Moldovan agricultural producers have secured full priority for domestic grain transport on the national rail network, the government announced following negotiations with farming associations.

![TRM](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/84759d4a-dfe9-4bbd-abba-3dfe09328c6c.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

![TRM](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/289e213e-2021-4b8a-808b-ddeb22e04b19.jpg)

*Sursa: TRM*

State railway operator CFM has allocated its entire dedicated grain fleet to local producers. Ukrainian transit cargo continues to move exclusively via Ukrainian-owned rolling stock.

CFM currently operates at roughly 20% network capacity and charges lower freight tariffs to domestic producers than the discounted rates applied to Ukrainian transit.

**Balancing transit logistics and market protection**

While rail logistics have been clarified, the contested issue of Ukrainian grain and oilseed import restrictions remains unresolved.

Growers are pushing for the reinstatement of an import licensing system, mirroring emergency mechanisms deployed across Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and Slovakia.

Association leaders argue that unrestricted regional inflows threaten domestic prices at a critical moment when farmers are attempting to recover from multi-year financial losses.

**Cabinet deliberates trade-offs along the value chain**

The government is scheduled to deliver a final ruling on import licensing on Friday following inter-ministerial reviews.

Leadership acknowledged intense pressure to protect growers, noting that import barriers also directly affect milling and livestock feed industries downstream.

Agricultural ministry officials confirmed that previous licensing mechanisms processed 33 import applications, approving 25 and rejecting 8.

Grower associations, who warned on August 16 of potential nationwide protests, stated they will determine their next mobilization steps once the cabinet publishes its decision.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**