Moldovan agricultural exports to Turkey partially blocked due to new phytosanitary rules

The Turkish authorities have significantly tightened phytosanitary regulations, introducing stricter traceability requirements for plant-based products, which has led to a partial blockade of Moldovan grain and oilseed exports to the Turkish market.
The most affected route is the Giurgiulești–Constanța–Turkey corridor, traditionally used for Moldovan agri-exports.

New import requirements.

Until October 2025, Turkish law required only a single phytosanitary certificate, issued either by the producer or the exporter country.
Under the new rules, whenever the country of origin differs from the loading country, the importer must present:

1. the original phytosanitary certificate from the producer country (Moldova), and
2. a re-export phytosanitary certificate from the country of loading (Romania).

However, Romanian authorities cannot issue a re-export certificate for goods that are not officially imported under customs procedures. As a result, ships carrying Moldovan wheat, corn, or oilseeds cannot enter Turkish ports without this document.

Trade and logistics implications.

According to Agrocereale Association Chairman Iurie Rișa, this situation has created an administrative deadlock in trade flows. Turkish buyers are rejecting shipments lacking dual certification, and Romanian traders have stopped accepting Moldovan cargoes for re-export.
Some Moldovan traders continue to use the port of Constanța, redirecting cargoes toward EU destinations or Black Sea transit, but this cannot offset the loss of the Turkish market, which was among Moldova’s most important export destinations.

Comment by the Institute of Danube Research:

Experts at IDR note that the issue has broader systemic implications for the entire Danube macro-region.

“The new Turkish phytosanitary rules reveal the vulnerability of transit chains through Constanța and Giurgiulești. It is crucial to develop a joint certification and traceability system for agri-products across the Danube-Prut region,” said IDS analysts.
“Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania could establish a mutual recognition platform for phytosanitary documents and cross-border control, which would facilitate exports to third countries and strengthen the role of the Lower Danube as a logistics hub.”