The European Commission has recently raised concerns regarding potential collusion among six Norwegian salmon producers in the European Union (EU) market. This alleged collusion is said to have taken place between 2011 and 2019 in relation to spot sales of Norwegian farmed Atlantic salmon.
On Thursday, the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, officially informed Cermaq, Grieg Seafood, Bremnes, Leroy Seafood Group, Mowi, and SalMar about its preliminary concerns. The Commission believes that these companies exchanged commercially sensitive information concerning sales prices, available volumes, sales volumes, production volumes, production capacities, and other price-setting factors.
It is important to note that the alleged anticompetitive conduct is limited to spot market sales into the EU, rather than long-term contracts. The European Commission emphasizes that issuing a statement of objections does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. This is a formal step in the Commission’s investigations into potential violations of EU antitrust rules.
At present, the six companies mentioned above have either not been reached or are not immediately available for comment on this matter.