Distasteful for Companies to Continue Delivering Despite Sanctions

NTEX Has Stopped All Traffic to Russia and Belarus.

These are strange, uncertain, and terrible times.
Like most others, NTEX have decided to shut down all traffic to, from, and via Russia and Belarus indefinitely.

Fortunately, this has not required us to lay off any staff. All those affected have been reassigned to other tasks within the company as we continue to grow.

Apart from having shut down these routes, we see no direct consequences of the war. But we are affected indirectly as Ukrainian drivers are leaving their jobs in Europe to participate in the war against Russia. This leads to a shortage of both trucks and drivers, which increases the demand for our services as there are currently more assignments than there are hauliers to carry them out. Thus, the market currently belongs to the hauliers.

Another effect that both we and our customers are experiencing is the high price of diesel. In the past, we have adjusted our customers' contracts on a monthly basis. However, for obvious reasons, we must do it more often now.

In view of the skyrocketing fuel prices, I think our government should review taxation and subsidies. Sure, they have reduced the taxes a little, but since more than 50 per cent of the price is made up of tax, I think it could be reduced even more. As it is now, the Swedish state is making a lot of money thanks to the high prices.

Another aspect of this is that those who are fighting to reduce our carbon footprint by using HVO diesel are paying more per litre than for normal diesel. This despite the fact that this biofuel reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent. Why not give all traders, who are involved in fuel-dependent activities, a substantial tax reduction for all sustainable biofuels?

I'm not thinking of NTEX in particular, but rather of the hauliers we employ and, not least, of all the Swedish farmers who are currently on their knees because of the skyrocketing costs of fuel, fertiliser, and seed. If no action is taken soon, the cost of food from Swedish farms will also skyrocket. This will affect everyone who shops.

On the subject of food, I recently learned that the dairy giant Arla has decided to stop selling its Kefir sour milk, as they think the packaging has a connection to Russia. I find it remarkable that there are Swedish companies that continue to supply their products to Russia. The fact that they have tripled their turnover since the war broke out, whereas their competitors ceased deliveries, is downright distasteful.

/Thomas