Exporters to pay new port taxes

According to him, four out of six taxes will be put in force from 1 July, as the government approved to the newly formed Port Governance Agency, in order to meet the needs of the enterpreneurs who appealed to the authorities.

- Those taxes are problem for our competitiveness – said Sakovic, and added that they are applied ''here and there'' at Danube ports.

Only three out of 33 loading places in Hungary have those taxes, claims Sakovic.

- When we put them in force, we will be in the same position as three Hungarian ports, but 30 loading places will be far in front of us – warned Sakovic.

He said that this is not only a problem of the importers, because the port tax is just an item in exporter's calculations.

- When it comes to exporter's calculations or exporter's expenses, the cost is always paid by a manufacturer – said Sakovic.

Prices of goods which come from Romania, Hungary and some other countries, and do not have those taxes, will be more favourable exactly by the tax rate – repeated Sakovic.

- The other issue is a question of foreign bargees, who have already announced that they will dock only in those ports which do not have an extra charge, not just because of the price, but a demanding paper work as well – said Sakovic.