Over 400,000 Moldovans shop online monthly, driven by price and product variety
Online commerce in the Republic of Moldova achieved a record value of 464 million euros last year, according to the study "Moldova E-Commerce Market 2025" conducted by AmCham Moldova. While an increasing number of Moldovans are opting for online shopping due to lower prices and quick delivery times, the country still faces challenges with digitalization. The technological infrastructure has not kept pace with the rapid growth of online commerce.
I met Ivan Zaporojan at the post office, where he was picking up a package for his wife. He mentioned that an increasing number of Moldovans are ordering online, particularly clothes and household goods from abroad, where prices are generally lower than at home.
"I order online every day. It's very easy and accessible, and I like it," he said. When I asked him what he ordered, he replied, "I don’t know; my wife ordered it. She orders more. In our country, prices influence the market."
I inquired further, "Do you mostly order clothes or other products?" He responded, "I rarely order clothes for the home, but I do order furniture online. We usually place an order once a month or once every two months."
He added, "I order clothes and hats. Are these for your wife? Yes, she bought some things for the children. They are small, and my wife doesn’t have the opportunity to go to stores, so she orders online. I ordered for the first time as a test, and it was fine."
"Sometimes I also order cosmetics, though not so many clothes. I particularly like perfumes. Online prices are cheaper. It's convenient because we can stay at home, place the order, and just go to pick it up."
Experts say that the online trade sector in the Republic of Moldova is developing rapidly.
"We are observing a healthy frequency of online shopping. About 450,000 people make purchases at least once a month, and 650,000 shop online at least once every six months. I believe that convenience is the primary factor motivating people to shop online, even more than price or variety," said marketing and trade expert Alexei Burciu.
"This year, we have already seen significant changes that will alter the dynamics of payments and delivery in online trade. We are talking about introducing mobile applications as payment terminals. The adoption of online payments and shopping among the population is just beginning, but we’re already witnessing a change in the last year, thanks to the entry of large international players into the region," said Michelle Iliev, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization.
According to a study, approximately 2,800 online stores are expected to be active in the Republic of Moldova by June 2025. In 2024, Moldovan shoppers are projected to spend around 10.2 billion lei on online purchases.
