Carriers are concerned about the small number of export permits for the Russian Federation. Although it has been discussed with the Russian side about increasing this quota up to 20 thousand authorizations, there have been speculations that only a thousand authorizations will be issued. The situation becomes even more complicated when only two hundred authorizations remain in stock, Vladimir Florea, chair of the Union of Transporters and Roads Workers Employers’ Association told IPN.

The export authorizations for the Russian Federation have been introduced three years ago, when the export procedure without authorizations was bilaterally cancelled. Currently, authorizations are required for all types of freight. In the first year, 45 thousand authorizations were foreseen. After a year, the number was reduced to 18 thousand, and then reached 14 thousand.

According to Vladimir Florea, this is a big problem for country’s producers. The issue was also raised at a high level in Moscow. Moldova has requested up to 20 thousand authorizations. Vladimir Florea says that tens of cars loaded with produce, which should reach Russia, are waiting for export permits every day. A working group has gone to Russia to repeatedly request an increase in the number of transport authorizations for Moldova, but it is not clear what the answer will be.

The Union’s chairman also says that there are companies which have received permits during the year, but did not use them. Vladimir Florea urged them to return the authorizations so that they could be offered to exporters who need them.