Moldova temporarily suspends customs exemptions for Serbian sugar to protect domestic market

The Moldovan government has decided to suspend customs exemptions for imports of beet sugar from Serbia for 200 days, citing the need to protect the domestic market, Radio Slobodna Evropa (RSE) reports.

The Moldovan government will impose a 75% customs duty on sugar imports from Serbia that exceed a quota of 1,000 tons during that period.

The explanation of the decision states that sugar produced in Serbia reaches the Moldovan market at an average price of about 14 lei per kilogram, while locally produced sugar costs 18 lei per kilogram, RSE reports.

Officials said the situation was forcing Moldovan producers to lower their prices by 20-25%, pushing them below the level of profitability.

Between August and December 2024, Moldova imported almost 15,000 tons of sugar from Serbia, accounting for 63% of total sugar imports, and in the first six months of 2025, it imported 13,800 tons.

In just one year, Serbia has supplied Moldova with almost half of the sugar it imports.

The government in Chisinau has approved tax breaks for several domestic companies to import sugar from the European Union.

Government of Moldova

customs duties

customs

sugar

domestic producers