CHIŞINĂU (Imedia) - Moldovan exports went up 16 percent in the first two months of 2010 and are slowly coming back to their pre-crisis levels, says the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).  

Exports went up 30.8 percent in February compared to the previous month, up to 110.6 million lei (about 11 million U.S. dollars). Deliveries of Moldovan goods on foreign markets are slowly coming back to pre-crisis levels, strengthening hopes about an improvement in trade numbers. The Government is hoping for export levels to go up eight percent in 2010, after they fell 18.4 percent in 2009.

The biggest increase in January-February was registered for good sent to markets belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (28.5 percent). Exports to the EU only went up 9.6 percent. EU countries bought 56.7 percent of Moldova's exports in the first two months of 2009 and 53.5 percent in the same period in 2010.

The NBSalso says that exports toward Russia rose 60.3 percent, followed by a 3.4-fold increase in goods going to Greece, 42.9 percent toward the U.K., 35.1 percent toward Germany, 62.1 percent toward Turkey, and 4.3 times toward the Czech Republic.

Commentary:

Viorel Chivriga: We can expect a modest recovery of foreign trade in 2010

„The rise in exports at the beginning of the year shows a small tendency of stabilization, which became visible in the last months of 2009, but which will prove its solidity in the first semester of this year," says Viorel Chivriga, and expert with the Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives.

Mr. Chivriga expects for foreign trade to recover modestly in 2010, and for exports to rise by about five percent.

„This will probably happen because of some progresses registered by our main commercial partners, by a moderate increase in domestic consumption, and by the more effective utilization by businesses of concessions Moldova has received from its main foreign partners," the expert explains.

„Growth in exports will go up slightly, facilitated by a continuing rise in foreign trade on international markets," Mr. Chivriga predicts.

Alex Oprunenco: The tendency points to continuing increases in numbers

Alex Oprunenco, an expert with the Expert Grup Independent Analysis Center, thinks that the tendency in export numbers points to increases, which will continue unless there is a second stage to the economic crisis.

„Currently, the external situation is beneficial for Moldovan exports and we should not expect them to drop," Mr. Oprunenco stresses.

He argues that the commercial deficit is going down, but „not because goods in Moldova have become very competitive or because Moldovan producers have found a niche where they can export products with high value added.

The fact is that imports are stagnating even compared to the first two months of 2009."

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Moldovan exports in the first two months of 2010 amounted to 195.1 million dollars, up 16.2 percent compared to the similar period last year.

Moldova exported goods worth 94.3 million dollars (up 9.6 percent) to the EU, and goods worth 70 million dollars (up 28.5 percent) to the CIS. Exports to other countries stood at 20.8 million U.S. dollars, up 13.6 percent.

The top five destinations of Moldovan goods were Russia (47.4 million dollars), Romania (29 million dollars), Italy (22.3 million dollars), the U.K. (11 million dollars), and Greece (10.9 million dollars).

In January 2010, Russia registered a 32.2-percent rise in foreign trade, a 42.6-percent rise in exports, and an 11-percent rise in imports. In 2009, the country's foreign trade had fallen 36.1 percent, followed by a 35.5-percent drop in exports and a 37.3-percent drop in imports compared to 2008. Ukraine has also registered a 23.6-percent rise in exports. Kyiv's imports went up 63 percent compared to the similar period last year. In 2009, exports and imports fell 33.5 percent and 56 percent respectively compared to 2008.

In January 2010, Romania's exports went up 18.4 percent if calculated in lei (19.8 percent if calculated in Euros). Its imports went up 3.5 percent if calculated in lei (4.4 percent if calculated in Euros).