10 million pounds of wheat less from Serbia alone in the first month of 100% tax

In the first month of the tax alone, 10 millionkg of wheat less have been introduced by Serbia, compared to the same period in the past five years.

Kosovo's customs disclosed that only during the first month of tax implementation, Kosovo has imported from Serbia about 120 million kilograms of wheat -- from 130-140 million -- has imported for the same period of time in recent years.

Customs spokesman Adriatic Stavileci has made known to Kosovo Preis that until the tax is imposed, the import of wheat was on the same trend as in the past years.

Even this year, until protective measures have been applied, there has been the same trend, but by November this trend has dropped and now we have 120 million pounds of imported wheat. In terms of origin, we have noted that 90 per cent of this wheat is originally from Serbia, but after the mass application, now the origin has begun to change -- so come from other countries too” -- he said.

Although it has been accepted with high enthusiasm and patriotism by citizens and local businesses, the tax, however, has its own weight for Kosovo economies.

Its effects are mostly being felt by wheat processors, who after the establishment of this fee are being forced to find alternatives to import raw materials. This is due to the fact that local wheat is also lacking in spite of low agricultural lands, while marking the 10 - cent increase in bread prices and other roasted ones.

Thus, company manager “Thes Ari”, Bashkim Zenjulah says the 100 per cent tax, as necessary, had come at an unexpected moment. He says that in the very period we were beginning to stabilise with the 10 per cent tax increase, they faced a 100 per cent tax.

For once, he has told Kosovo that the effects of the wheat processing tax.

“Taxa to us wheat processing has negatively affected the aspect of price hikes and non-combat competition, we are not equal in dealing with the surrounding competition such as Macedonia and Albania. We know that both countries are not wheat producers, they are only processing and we have direct competition now from two states, from Macedonia in particular, we have a direct competition and we wheat processing in Kosovo cannot afford this”, he said.

Zenjulah, at the same time chairman of the Kosovo Olive Association, says wheat processors have already turned their eyes to other countries, though Serbia is the closest state to which they have taken the wheat.

He expresses the concern of local businesses, which this first material had received so far from Serbia, that they are being forced to take the wheat from Macedonia and Albania, knowing both countries import it from Serbia.

“We have found supply channels such as Hungary, Bulgaria, have imported considerable amounts of wheat, and I think no internal problems will arise. It may have an impact on the price, but it won't have a”, he said.

While the Malushaj Union from the Kosovo Afarism Oda (OAK) said that, along with the positive spirit that has brought taxes to local businesses, in their focus on production, the Government had to predominate a plan for plant strategies.

According to him, thanks to the producers' enthusiasm, the 100 per cent tax on products imported from Serbia has been easier to deal with.

The future was better prepared to prepare the grounds so as not to affect the market, the price of bread, the price of grain. I believe we've had a good time, thanking the enthusiasm of the citizens, the enthusiasm of their producers, the businessmen themselves. They have coped more easily than perhaps this decision has caused, he said.

OsovaPress has also talked with local bakers who, after implementing the tax, have raised the price of bread of 30 cents to 40 cents. They for various reasons did not want to talk about this subject in front of the camera, but still have given their opinions on the tax.

Kosovo suppliers estimate that raising maturity prices has not come generally due to lack of local wheat in general, while the time had come for the tax, without any direct implications in raising the price of oven products.

The bakers generally express concern that there is no great profit from their work, and for this, they say, there has been an increase in the price of maturity so that the latter do not suffer losses.

Otherwise, the 100 per cent tax has had its effect on the decline in imports of products from Serbia for 20m euros.