The European Commission has stepped up its crackdown on alleged cartels by issuing a Statement of Objections to ten construction chemicals manufacturers and three national trade associations over suspected price-fixing.
According to the Commission’s preliminary findings, the companies allegedly coordinated price increases for chemicals used in cement, concrete and mortar between 2021 and 2022, a period marked by soaring raw material costs following the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The companies named by the Commission are:
- Cemex
- Chryso
- Mapei
- Master Builders Solutions
- MC Bauchemie
- Sika
- TAM
- Ha-be
- Liesen
- Remei
Three industry associations are also under investigation:
- SYNAD (France)
- Deutsche Bauchemie (Germany)
- ANFAH (Spain)
The Commission alleges that the parties coordinated future price increases in France, Germany and Spain. If the allegations are ultimately confirmed, the companies could face fines of up to 10% of their worldwide annual turnover.
A Statement of Objections is not a final decision. It gives the companies the opportunity to review the Commission’s evidence and respond before the EU reaches its final conclusions.
Personal Remarks
This may only be the tip of the iceberg. Many more suspected cartels have yet to be investigated by the European Commission. To some extent, one could argue that the Commission is highly selective in deciding which industries and alleged cartels it chooses to pursue.
Source
Construction chemicals companies, trade associations hit with EU cartel charges