EU Commission accuses certain manufacturers of construction additives of forming a cartel
The additives in question are chemicals commonly used in the construction industry to improve the properties of concrete, cement and other mortars
(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - The European Commission has accused several manufacturers of cement and concrete additives, including the Mexican giant Cemex and a subsidiary of the French group Saint-Gobain, of forming a cartel to impose higher prices on customers. The additives in question are chemicals commonly used in the construction industry to improve the properties of concrete, cement and other mortars.
The Commission, which carried out unannounced inspections in 2023, suspects that manufacturers and trade associations in France, Germany and Spain colluded to raise prices in a coordinated manner in 2021 and 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. If these suspicions are confirmed, the Commission could impose fines of up to 10 per cent of the companies’ total annual turnover; however, the companies involved will have the opportunity to defend themselves. Also implicated are the Swiss market leader Sika, the Italian firm Mapei and the French company TAM.
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