Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) has opened an investigation focused on six major Brescia-based companies accused of forming a steel sector cartel for rebar and welded mesh, Kallanish learns from AGCM. According to the Italian authority, the companies involved are Alfa Acciai, ORI Martin, Feralpi Siderurgica, Industrie Riunite Odolesi, Ferriera Valsabbia and Stefana.

The procedure follows a complaint lodged in 2011 by a local distributor who reported that the sale prices of the two products sold by the six companies were identical.

As stated in an official AGCM document, “…since 2010, representatives of the companies met in Brescia’s chamber of commerce, where the prices of the steel products are recorded every fortnight”.

“Based on the information currently available”, the institution says, “…it would appear that there is a coordination between the major domestic manufacturers of steel which resulted in price fixing practices.”

The investigation is expected to be concluded by end-December 2016.

In 2014, the European Union imposed fines for €83.25 million ($92m) on a group of Italian steel companies accused of having formed a cartel for rebar between 1989 and 2000 (see Kallanish 15 December, 2014). The companies involved in that investigation were Alfa Accai, Feralpi Holding, Iro, Acciaierie Leali, Leali, Lucchini, Valsabbia Investimenti, Ferriere Nord and Riva Fire.