There is a quiet transformation underway in Moldova's wine sector — one measured not in barrels shipped, but in dollars earned per liter.
The first quarter of 2026 tells a story that would have seemed unlikely a decade ago: the country is exporting less wine and making more money doing it.
ONVV's latest figures confirm total Q1 export value at $53.2 million, the highest opening quarter on record, even as volume contracted 16% to 29 million litres. For an industry long associated with high-volume, low-margin bulk production, this is a meaningful inflection.
Value vs volume — a decade of divergence
| Year | Volume (mln L) | Value (mln $) | Implied $/litre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 33.1 | $31.7 | $0.96 |
| 2018 | 37.0 | $42.0 | $1.14 |
| 2019 | 33.6 | $35.2 | $1.05 |
| 2020 | 35.2 | $36.5 | $1.04 |
| 2021 | 20.1 | $31.2 | $1.55 |
| 2022 | 29.2 | $39.8 | $1.36 |
| 2023 | 30.0 | $44.8 | $1.49 |
| 2024 | 31.3 | $49.8 | $1.59 |
| 2025 | 34.6 | $50.6 | $1.46 |
| 2026 | 29.0 | $53.2 | $1.83 |
| 10-yr avg | 31.5 | $41.3 | $1.31 |
The implied revenue per liter has risen from $0.96 in 2017 to $1.83 in 2026 — almost doubling over the decade. This is the clearest expression of premiumization: not just higher prices, but a structural shift in what Moldova's wine industry offers to the world.
Where the money comes from — regional breakdown
| Region | Value share | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 65% | $34.6 mln | â–² +21% |
| CSI | 25% | $13.0 mln | â–² +6% |
| Africa | 5% | $2.5 mln | â–² +39% |
| Asia | 3% | $1.6 mln | ▼ −20% |
| America | 3% | $1.5 mln | ▼ −74% |
Europe is leading the charge, growing 21% to $34.6 million. Romania alone accounts for nearly 35% of bottled wine export value — a neighbour that has become Moldova's most valuable commercial partner in wine. But Africa's 39% growth to $2.5 million is the subplot worth watching, signalling geographic diversification that could cushion future volatility in European or CIS markets.
The Divin factor — premiumisation's sharpest edge
| Category | Value | Value change | Volume | Volume change | Value share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still wines | $32.4 mln | ▼ −3% | 23.2 mln L | ▼ −18% | 61% |
| Divin & Brandy | $16.8 mln | â–² +77% | 4.1 mln L | â–² +44% | 32% |
| Liqueur wines | $2.7 mln | â–² +30% | 1.2 mln L | â–² +13% | 5% |
| Sparkling wines | $2.7 mln | â–² +30% | 1.2 mln L | â–² +13% | 2% |
| Vermouths | $0.16 mln | ▼ −96% | 0.07 mln L | ▼ −96% | 0.3% |
The most striking data point of Q1 2026 is Divin and brandy. This category — representing just 15% of export volume — generated 32% of total value. Bottled Divin alone grew 177% in value and 201% in volume. That scale of growth is not accidental. It reflects deliberate market development and international recognition that Moldova's aged distillates can compete on premium shelves.
Top markets for bottled wine — Q1 2026
| Country | Volume share | Value share |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | 26.9% | 34.9% |
| Czech Republic | 9.9% | 7.2% |
| Poland | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Nigeria | 8.3% | 7.9% |
| Netherlands | 5.7% | 5.2% |
| Canada | 4.7% | 3.5% |
| Ukraine | 4.0% | 3.2% |
| Russian Federation | 3.2% | 2.3% |
| China | 2.7% | 3.0% |
| Germany | 1.9% | 2.6% |
Romania's dominance is partly structural — geographic proximity, cultural affinity, and distribution infrastructure all help. But the diversity of names on this list — Nigeria, China, Canada — speaks to an industry reaching further than its Soviet-era export corridors ever did. Moldova's wine is, slowly and steadily, becoming a global product. The question for the years ahead is whether producers can deepen those relationships and build the brand recognition that sustains premium pricing over time.
Source: ONVV/Wine of Moldova
0 comments