Andrei Melnichenko
Agrocenter EuroChem SRL was founded ten years ago and is owned by the Dutch company EuroChem International Holding B.V. It is part of the global EuroChem empire—one of the world’s five largest producers of mineral fertilizers. The company’s founder is Russian billionaire Andrei Melnichenko, who is on international sanctions lists as well as on lists adopted by the Republic of Moldova, according to RISE Moldova.
Until recently, Agrocenter EuroChem was one of the main importers of mineral fertilizers in Moldova. Between 2018 and 2024, the company recorded impressive revenue figures—ranging from 300 to 600 million lei. In 2021 and 2022, it was also among the largest taxpayers to the state budget.
Recently, the situation has changed dramatically, as evidenced by the fact that on July 14, 2026, a Chisinau court ruled to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against the company. The decision was made at the request of the Central Customs Bureau, an initiative joined by other creditors: Fertistream-TRM SRL, EuroChem Trading Middle East FZE, the mineral and chemical company EuroChem JSK, and Azot JSK.
The exact reasons for the customs authority’s decision have not been specified, but publicly available data shows that Agrocenter EuroChem’s direct debt to the state budget alone already amounts to approximately 12 million lei.
With the commencement of the proceedings, the court ordered the company to transfer all financial and accounting documents, as well as its official seal, to the bankruptcy administrator. At the same time, the administrator is required to notify all creditors, assess their claims, and submit, by September 18, 2026, a detailed report on the causes of the bankruptcy and the individuals who will be held responsible for this situation.
