Overview

The Leuseni-Albita BCP is one of the most critical BCPs between Moldova and Romania. As of this assessment, all consulted parties quoted this BCP as the most relevant point of entry for cargo coming from the European Union (EU) into Moldova.

At the moment of this assessment, the fastest route from the capital was through the E584 and R33 roads. The E584 is an European B-class road, connecting the Ukrainian city of Poltava, later Kropîvnytskyi; in the Republic of Moldova it crosses Chisinau and then the south of the country to Giurgiulesti; in Romania the first major city is Galati. Alternatively, the M1 and E581 roads can be also used, although this route has an additional 18 km.

This BCP manages both passenger and cargo flows, having separate lanes for passengers (5 lanes) and trucks (a total of four lanes, one being dedicated to Authorized Economic Operators).

Daily Capacity

As one of the most critical BCPs between Romania and Moldova, the average traffic at the Leuseni-Albita BCP is approximately 400 to 500 trucks per day. Because this BCP is an important entry point for petroleum products (mainly diesel and gasoline), a large number of tanker trucks exit the country to load in Romania and come back to Moldova.

The customs infrastructure on the Moldovan side is composed of two areas: one for passengers and another for cargo. The passenger area is composed of a total of six lanes which handle passenger vehicles, whereas the cargo area has four lanes dedicated for incoming trucks, one of which is dedicated for Authorized Economic Actors, resulting in an expedited customs process.

In terms of inspections, similarly to other BCPs, the Leuseni BCP counts with an office of ANSA located at the BCP to conduct the necessary checks on food products entering the country. Additionally, the BCP counts with two scales (one mobile and one mobile), and a modern scanner for conducting truck inspections.

Lastly, a large waiting area for trucks is available with an estimated capacity of fifty to seventy trucks.

Customs Clearance

In 2023, the Moldovan and Romanian customs authorities agreed to operate jointly in Albita (Romanian side) to conduct the customs formalities for cargo exiting Moldova into Romania.

For cargo entering Moldova, the Romanian Customs authorities will perform the customs formalities, then the trucks will transit the no-man-land and arrive at the customs in Leuseni, where Moldovan Customs Authorities will proceed with the Transit or Import formalities.

Other Relevant Information

Shippers and transporters consistently mentioned that it takes between one and three days to traverse the Leușeni-Albița BCP. Moreover, surges in non-commercial traffic occur predictably on holidays, and also seasonally, as Moldovans move across the border for work in the EU. It appears that the clearance of non-commercial traffic is prioritized by the Romanian authorities. This creates a resource pressure on the Romanian side of the border. Additionally, higher levels of congestion may be observed during the harvesting season as agricultural products are exported into the EU. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that dual-use goods are subject to increased scrutiny and therefore longer waiting times should be expected for these goods.

A bank office and Customs Brokers offices are present at the BCP in order to facilitate payments and customs formalities.

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List

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