OREANDA-NEWS. September 06, 2013. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) imposed most part of turnover fines upon participants of a cartel on the market of suspension polyvinylchloride (PVC-S).

On 17th December 2012, FAS found that “Yedinaya” Trading Company” (“ETK”) OJSC, “Sayanchimplast” OJSC, “Caustic” OJSC (of Volgograd), “Caustic” OJSC (of Sterlitamak), “Sibirskaya” Trading Company” Ltd., “Bashkirskaya Khimia” OJSC and “NIKHOKHIM” Ltd. violated the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (Clause 3 Part 1 Article 11) by concluding an agreement that led or could have led to dividing the PVC-S market by volume of sales in 2005 - 2009.

FAS fined “ETK” OJSC 244.3 million Rubles, “Sayanchimplast” OJSC – 64.2 million Rubles, “Caustic” OJSC (of Volgograd) – 52.8 million Rubles, “Bashkirskaya Khimia” – 78.8 million Rubles, “Bashkirskaya Sodovaya Kompania” OJSC (till May 2013 – “Caustic” OJSC (of Sterlitamak)) -120.2 million Rubles (under Part 1 Article 14.32 of the Code of the Russian Federation on administrative Violations). Thus, the companies have to transfer to the budget the Russian Federation 560.3 million Rubles.

“Over the past few years FAS has paid special attention to the chemical industry. FAS investigated cases on antimonopoly violations on the market of caustic soda, hepsol, PVC, baking soda. Currently we continue monitoring the sate of competition on these markets and observe positive trends. Administrative cases against other participants of the cartel on the PVC-S market are under investigation”, said Deputy Head of FAS Alexander Kinev.

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PVC-S is used widely for production of window profiles, siding, cable canals, wall panels, window sills, stretch ceilings, cable and medical plastic compounds medical products, artificial leather, sewage pipes, high-strength pipes, cultural and household goods, etc.