OREANDA-NEWS. January 19, 2010. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that "Silvinit" OJSC, "Mineral Trading" Ltd. and "Uralkalii" OJSC violated Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (competition-restricting concerted actions). FAS Russia found that the contract between "Mineral Trading" Ltd. and "Silvinit" OJSC led to fixing resale price, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The FAS Russia's Commission found that in 2009 economically justified price for "Silvin" mineral concentrate produced by "Silvinit" OJSC should not have exceeded 3.755 Rubles per ton (w/o VAT).

"The distribution scheme, created by "Silvinit" OJSC and "Mineral Trading" Ltd., resulted in increasing prices and fixing unjustified resale price for chloride potash", said Teimuraz Kharitonashvili, the Head of the Department for Control over Chemical Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex."As a result, in 2009 consumers of mineral fertilizers were forced to overpay 200 Rubles for each ton of minerals".

The FAS Russia's Commission issued determinations to "Silvinit" OJSC, "Uralkalii" OJSC and "Mineral Trading" Ltd. aimed at stabilizing the situation and developing competition in the potash chloride market.

"FAS Russia gave "Silvinit" OJSC and "Uralkalii" OJSC indicative price for calculating the economically justified price for chloride potash in 2010 at 3755 Rubles per ton. We will thoroughly control how the economic entities will execute the FAS Russia's decision and determinations", - said Andrey Tsyganov, Deputy Head of FAS Russia.