As the Romanian state is going increasingly into debt, state owned and private companies are accruing major debts to the state budget. In the first six months of the year, the arrears of the major debtors to the state budget have increased by about 1 billion lei, from approximately 5 billion lei, at the end of last year, to 6 billion lei at the end of H1 2011. The major debtors owed about 5.5 billion lei to the state budget at the end of March 2011.

The National Coal Company (CNH) is "clinging" to its top spot among the largest debtors, with over 1.86 billion lei owed to the state budget, according to the list of major debtors, published a few days ago by the National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF). The arrears of the CNH have increased over the last three months, from about 182 million at the end of March 2011.

The National Railway Company "CFR" SA is making "progress" as well, being the second largest major debtor, with approximately 998 million lei in arrears, up from 922 million lei at the end of Q1 2010.

The next two spots in the chart are held by two other companies which are part of the Romanian Railway Company: "Electrificare CFR" SA and Societatea Naţională de Transport Feroviar de Marfă "CFR - Marfă" SA. The former has accrued in just three months 261 million in debt, because it didn"t appear on the list published by the ANAF three months ago. The debts of "CFR Marfă" have increased from 221 million lei in March, to 249 million.

The fifth largest debtor is the National Lignite Company Oltenia SA, whose debts have increased from 142 million lei in March 2011 to almost 190 million lei, at the end of June.

"Telecomunicaţii CFR" (139 million lei), "European Food" (134 million lei), the Romanian Post Office (104 million lei), "Silo Impex 2007" (91 million lei), Societatea Naţională "Îmbunătăţiri Funciare" (76 million lei), "Lab