Plastic waste exports in Moldova
Moldova: Plastic waste exports was 40.12 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in Moldova, 1994–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Moldova recorded 40.12 tonnes for plastic waste exports in 2024.
The figure is down 74.3% on the previous year and down 65.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in Moldova peaked at 522.23 tonnes in 2017 and was at its lowest, 0.001 tonnes, in 2005.
That places Moldova 127th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in Moldova, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 5 tonnes | — |
| 1995 | 16.69 tonnes | +233.8% |
| 1996 | 34.82 tonnes | +108.7% |
| 2001 | 22.73 tonnes | -34.7% |
| 2002 | 7.86 tonnes | -65.4% |
| 2003 | 2.57 tonnes | -67.3% |
| 2004 | 5.32 tonnes | +107.2% |
| 2005 | 0.001 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 2006 | 7.03 tonnes | +702400.0% |
| 2009 | 76.25 tonnes | +985.4% |
| 2010 | 91.68 tonnes | +20.2% |
| 2011 | 27.6 tonnes | -69.9% |
| 2012 | 22.11 tonnes | -19.9% |
| 2013 | 188.22 tonnes | +751.5% |
| 2014 | 115.91 tonnes | -38.4% |
| 2015 | 232.59 tonnes | +100.7% |
| 2016 | 411.08 tonnes | +76.7% |
| 2017 | 522.23 tonnes | +27.0% |
| 2018 | 442.71 tonnes | -15.2% |
| 2019 | 177.78 tonnes | -59.8% |
| 2020 | 169.74 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 273.54 tonnes | +61.2% |
| 2022 | 366.18 tonnes | +33.9% |
| 2023 | 156.19 tonnes | -57.3% |
| 2024 | 40.12 tonnes | -74.3% |
Moldova compared with similar countries
- Moldova's 40.12 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,066 tonnes, 4% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Moldova's 40.12 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7,198 tonnes, 1% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in Moldova changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +702400.0% | 0.001 tonnes | 7.03 tonnes |
| 2009 | +985.4% | 7.03 tonnes | 76.25 tonnes |
| 2013 | +751.5% | 22.11 tonnes | 188.22 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.84 tonnes | 5 tonnes | 34.82 tonnes | 3 |
| 2000s | 17.39 tonnes | 0.001 tonnes | 76.25 tonnes | 7 |
| 2010s | 223.19 tonnes | 22.11 tonnes | 522.23 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 201.15 tonnes | 40.12 tonnes | 366.18 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Moldova
More environment data for Moldova
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.0661 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.0108 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8634 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per unit of 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Fugitive Emissions (Energy) (Mt CO2e) 1.92 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in Moldova?
- Plastic waste exports in Moldova was 40.12 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in Moldova?
- The highest recorded value was 522.23 tonnes in 2017.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in Moldova?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.001 tonnes in 2005.
- How does Moldova rank for plastic waste exports?
- Moldova ranks 127th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in Moldova?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Moldova data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.