Mexico slaps car carrier giants with antitrust penalties

JUNE 12, 2017 — COFECE, Mexico’s antitrust commission has imposed penalties totaling 581,660,000 pesos (about $32 million) on shipping companies involved in what it calls an international cartel operating in the motor vehicle shipping market.

COFECE says the companies entered into nine collusive agreements signed between 2009 and 2012, though in some cases their validity extended until 2015, in order to segment the maritime transport market for motor vehicles and rolling stock for construction and agriculture in the national territory. This reduced competitive pressure and increased the costs of services provided.

The companies named by COFECE are:

Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV)
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line);
K Line America
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL)
Mitsui OSK Bulk Shipping (MOBUSA) and
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL)

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