FAS Russia seriously took up the verification of metallurgists

26.08.2021       

The department has data at its disposal that may indicate signs of a price collusion, the consequence of which may be an increase and maintenance of selling prices for rebar

Previously, the FAS of Russia on requests of citizens and organizations about the increase in prices for metal (including rebar), price monitoring was carried out, according to the results of which it was found that in the territory of the Russian Federation in 2021, compared to the previous year, prices for rebar increased significantly (more than 50%).< /p>

As one of the reasons for the rise in rebar prices, metallurgical companies indicated an increase in price indicators in foreign markets. At the same time, the agency recorded an increase in prices in the domestic market during a decrease in external indicators.

Thus, based on the analysis of the information at the disposal of the agency, circumstances were established that may testify to the presence in the actions of the largest rebar manufacturers of signs of concluding and implementing price collusion aimed at increasing and maintaining selling prices for rebar.

on-site inspections of NLMK PJSC, Novostal-M LLC, Tulachermet-Stal LLC, Management Company LLC laquo;IMHВ» for the conclusion of an anticompetitive agreement (Article 11 of the Law on Protection of Competition).

unjustified increase in prices.

If the actions of the inspected persons violate the prohibitions established by the Law on Protection of Competition, an antitrust case will be initiated.

< p style="text-align: justify;"> The final conclusions about the presence or absence of violations of the antimonopoly law in the actions of the inspected persons will be made by the department based on the results of verification activities, as well as analysis of all the information received by the FAS Russia.

For reference:
The service is also considering three cases in the flat products market. Severstal, Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant (MMK) and Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant (NLMK) are suspected of maintaining monopolistically high prices for hot-rolled steel.
Steel Industrial Company, LLC Service Center of Rolled Metal, LLC Enterprise Stroytekhtsentr, LLC A Group, LLC URALMETALLSTROY, LLC Kitting and Supply Management,