---
title: "Billions spent on online shopping: Moldovans’ orders from foreign platforms continue to surge"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/89092/billions-spent-on-online-shopping-moldovans-orders-from-foreign-platforms-continue-to-surge
published: 2026-11-06T12:40:00Z
language: en
author: "Ana Cebotari"
section: "Economic"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Billions spent on online shopping: Moldovans’ orders from foreign platforms continue to surge

> Moldovans’ spending on foreign online shopping platforms could reach 20.1 billion lei by 2027, with the number of transactions expected to exceed 53 million. However, the average value per purchase is projected to decline, according to economic policy expert Veaceslav Ioniță.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/ca27732d-97f3-4a0b-851e-5df22bf37907.jpg)

Moldovans’ spending on foreign online shopping platforms could reach 20.1 billion lei by 2027, with the number of transactions expected to exceed 53 million. However, the average value per purchase is projected to decline, according to economic policy expert Veaceslav Ioniță.

According to his analysis, in the third quarter of the current year alone, Moldovans spent 4.6 billion lei on online purchases from abroad. This figure is 455 million lei—or 11%—higher than in the same period last year.

“*While the average annual growth rate was 29% between 2015 and 2019, and 15% between 2020 and 2023, an average annual growth of 33% is projected for the 2024–2026 period. Consequently, the volume of online purchases from abroad is forecast to reach 20.1 billion lei by 2027, compared to 1.55 billion lei in 2015*,” the expert stated during his own program on November 6.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/132d347f-f892-46cf-b26f-aefd0bdfa399.jpg)

Ioniță points out that both the total value of purchases and the number of orders are rising. In 2025, Moldovans made nearly 40.1 million online transactions on foreign platforms; by 2027, that figure could exceed 53 million.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/b5c7e871-731c-46a6-b909-2194f5d8298f.jpg)

**More transactions, lower value**

On the other hand, the average value per purchase is declining. While a transaction had an average value of 516 lei in 2017, the figure for 2027 is estimated at 379 lei. This suggests that people in Moldova are placing orders more frequently but buying cheaper products or smaller quantities each time.

This trend is also reflected in the number of parcels arriving in the Republic of Moldova. In 2025, over 11 million parcels and small packages shipped from abroad were recorded, with an estimated 15.9 million projected for 2027—more than four times the figure for 2020. Meanwhile, the average value per parcel is expected to reach 1,326 lei by 2027.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/2092a29b-422b-4e6a-a733-e810d55ed9db.jpg)

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/4fbf621c-0bbb-4516-ae72-13cc6a1ddabb.jpg)

The increase in the number of orders from abroad is also boosting postal and courier services. In 2025, the revenues of postal operators reached 940.6 million lei, compared to 638.2 million lei in 2024. For 2026, these are estimated at approximately 1.21 billion lei.

As of November 1, the Republic of Moldova has introduced a 20% Value Added Tax (VAT) on parcels valued at up to 150 euros ordered from foreign online platforms, such as Temu, Shein, or AliExpress.

Minister of Finance Victoria Belous explained that this measure was necessary to ensure fair market competition and to protect domestic merchants who fulfill their tax obligations.

The responsibility for collecting the VAT lies with the postal operators that bring the parcels into the Republic of Moldova. They declare the tax to the Customs Service and subsequently transfer it to the state budget, having collected it either from the buyer or from the online commercial platform.

Consequently, a parcel containing goods worth 1,000 lei now costs the buyer 1,200 lei. Furthermore, starting January 1, 2027—when a fixed fee of 12 lei per parcel will also be applied—the total cost will rise to 1,212 lei.

VAT can be paid directly on the online platform at the time of purchase, or upon receipt of the parcel. The specific collection method is determined by each individual company. Buyers do not need to file customs declarations personally, as postal operators handle these formalities.