EU accuses cement additive makers of price-fixing

The European Commission accused several manufacturers of additives for cement and concrete of colluding to charge customers higher prices.

The products are chemical additives commonly used in construction to improve the properties of concrete, cement and other mortars.

The Commission said the suspected conduct involved manufacturers and professional organisations in France, Germany and Spain. It accused them of forming a cartel to raise prices in a coordinated way in 2021 and 2022, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Commission carried out surprise inspections in the sector in 2023. If its suspicions are confirmed, Brussels could impose fines of up to 10 percent of global annual turnover on the companies involved. The companies will have an opportunity to defend themselves.

The companies named include Mexican cement company Cemex, Swiss construction chemicals maker Sika and Italian rival Mapei. They also include Chryso, a subsidiary of French group Saint-Gobain, and French firm TAM Groupe.

Saint-Gobain said it had a zero-tolerance policy toward anti-competitive practices and said it had no reason to expect any material financial impact on its accounts.