Displaying items by tag: Competition
UK: The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GGCA) has launched a photography competition to showcase the role of concrete in the world. The contest has three categories and is open to both professional and amateur photographers. A top price of US$10,000 is on offer for the winning entry.
CMS Cement not planning to raise prices
26 June 2019Malaysia: Suhadi Sulaiman, the chief executive officer (CEO) of CMS Cement, says that the company does not intend to increase its prices ‘anytime soon.’ He said that any potential enquiry into a differene in prices between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak would show that the cement producer had not riased its prices since early 2016, according to the Borneo Post newspaper. He made the comments in a reponse to a call by the Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng for such an enquiry.
“We welcome the enquiry for two reasons... Firstly, it will show that the disparity in prices is purely due to the recent aggressive price war, which led to industry mergers and acquisitions in Peninsular Malaysia,” said Suhadi. “Secondly, an enquiry of this nature will also serve to show once and for all that Sarawak is not, and never has been, a cement monopoly.”
Lim said previously that an investigation was necessary to determine whether cartel-like behaviour was responsible for higher cement prices in Sarawak. He noted that the price was ‘significantly’ higher in the state than in Peninsular Malaysia.
Peru: The Supreme Court has upheld a fine of nearly US$2m by the National Institute for the Defense of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) on UNACEM. The penalty was levied due to UNACEM and its distribution network refusing to allow retailers to sell cement made by its competitor, according to the Gestión newspaper. INDECOPI said that in 2014 UNACEM and its collaborators refused to allow retailers to stock its Sol brand of cement if they were selling the rival Quisqueya brand produced by Mexico’s Cemex.
El Salvadoran competition body fines Holcim
01 March 2019El Salvador: The Board of Directors of the Superintendence of Competition (CDSC) has fined Holcim El Salvador US$82,000 for failing to provide data for an investigation. The CDSC started its investigation in mid-2018, according to Summa magazine. However, the subsidiary of LafargeHolcim has been accused of delaying submitting information to the competition data in the autumn of 2018.
Philippines: The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) says it will consider a new tariff on imported cement as part of its investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour. In early January 2019 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it would impose a provisional safeguard duty of US$0.16/bag on imported cement, according to the Philippine Star newspaper. The PCC started its latest investigation into the cement industry in 2017. Previously it said it planned to complete the study in 2019.
European Commission approves Oyak acquisition of Cimpor Portugal
11 January 2019Belgium: The European Commission has approved the acquisition of sole control over Cimpor Portugal by Turkey’s Oyak. The commission ruled that there are no competition concerns between the cement producers given that they operate in different geographic markets. The deal was announced in late October 2018.
Cementos Portland Valderrivas Alcalá de Guadaíra plant announces winners of children’s painting competition
25 December 2018Spain: Cementos Portland Valderrivas’ (CPV) Alcalá de Guadaíra plant has awarded first place in its children’s painting competition to Eva María Gómez, a student at the nearby CEIP Ángeles Martín Mateo primary school. The student depicted the daily work conducted at the plant in vibrant colours. Second place went to Lucía López from the same school. Special mention was also made to Ainhoa Manzano. The competition was run with the Andalusian Foundation for Cement and Environment (FLACEMA).
Russia: The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has approved a merger of Pereval Pit and Angarsk Cement with Optic Holding. Siberian Cement will gain a 99.9% stake in Optic Holding following the deal, according to the AK&M Agency. The application to FAS was made in mid-October 2018. Angarsk Cement is part of Siberian Cement group.
El Salvador: The Superintendence of Competition (SC) has started investigating the effects of competition in the production and sales of cement upon the local construction industry. The study is being conducted by GPR Economy, an Argentine company, according to the El Mundo newspaper. It will examine any potential monopoly distortions in the local cement, asphalt and heavy machinery industries. The country has two integrated cement plants that are both operated by Holcim El Salvador.
Colombia: The Council of State has confirmed a fine to Cemex imposed by the Superintendent of Industry and Commerce (SIC) for fixing the price of cement. The ruling found that an agreement between Cemex Colombia, Holcim Colombia and Cementos Argos distorted the price, supply and sales of Ordinary Portland Cement in the second half of 2005. In particular the tribunal found that the way in which Argos gave information about Cementos Andino’s involvement in the national market to Cemex and Holcim was be anti-competitive.