International companies, such as Cargill, Glencore, Alfred C. Toepfer International, and Bunge, or regional ones, including Serbia-based Ameropa Ispoint, could be on this list. Traders say that it takes up to two years to get VAT reimbursement, which makes their operations significantly more difficult.
“VAT is a loss for the Romanian state. In May and June, companies are founded to buy grain tax free, and then they sell it, including the tax. Months later, they sell the company abroad or file debts to the Trade Court,” one of the top agricultural producers locally, Culita Tarata, told Business Standard.
A letter of the Association of Grain Traders (ARCPA), sent to the Finance Ministry earlier this year, says that traders faced difficulties in recovering VAT, due to unjustified delays from the fiscal authorities. The letter says that ARCPA members have been subject to fiscal inspections and that they paid their fiscal obligations in due time.
The grain market, worth billions of euros, has Alfred C. Toepfer, Cargill, Glencore Protein Romania, Bunge, Ameropa Ispoint, Maria Trading, and InterAgro as main players.
