Competition Council extends investigation on timber market, conducts further inspections on six companies

The Competition Council has extended the investigation on the timber market in Romania and carried out unannounced inspections at the premises and branches of six companies operating in this field, the authority reported on Monday.
In this regard, the Competition Council has inspected the companies Holzindustrie Schweighofer, Egger Romania, Kronospan Sebes, Silva Logistic Services, Alredia and Lacul Codrilor, digi24.ro reports.
“There are new clues on possible agreements between the companies in the field: market-sharing, sharing of supply sources and price fixing in the auctions organized by Romsilva. These new clues have led us to expand the investigation at national level,” said the President of the Competition Council Bogdan Chiriţoiu.
The documents seized during inspections are to be analysed the Competition Council, under the specific procedures for investigation.
In early February, the Competition Council initiated an investigation into possible cartel between companies operating on the processing of wood market in order to share the market, the supply sources and the volume of wood intended for sale at a minimum price in the auctions organized by Alba and Hunedoara forestry directorates.
Also, the Competition Authority is currently conducting an inquiry on the timber market in which the structures and functioning mechanisms are analysed. In August 2015, in the preliminary report of the study the Competition Council made a number of recommendations for the improving of the competitive environment in the field.