Agriculture, Industry and Construction Unit
Agriculture
The agricultural industry includes farming, horticulture, cattle breeding and fishing. It has a different dynamic than industry has. One of the agricultural industry’s characteristics is that it can experience big price fluctuations. Lively debates on prices are held in the industry, due to its economic position. One of the most talked about topics is margins – how they are set in the entire chain, from farmer to retailer. Sustainable agriculture is increasingly getting more and more attention. Consumers and governments want less CO2 emissions and more attention to animal welfare. This often leads to questions about cooperation within the production chain, and about how much leeway the Dutch Competition Act and European regulations can offer.
Industry
Industry includes all industrial companies, ranging from glass manufacturers to food processing companies. Prompted by several high-profile cartel cases before and in 2009, the NMa decided to increase oversight on the processing industry in 2010 and 2011. In several submarkets of the industrial sector, only a few suppliers are active. In addition, companies often manufacture homogeneous products. These aspects make it a very cartel-prone market.
Construction
In the early 2000s, the construction industry faced the so-called construction fraud case. More than 1,400 construction companies were fined for bid-rigging and market-sharing. Since then, the construction industry has become more aware of, and has given more attention to compliance with antitrust regulations. The NMa’s oversight activities in this industry are very diverse, and cover a broad range of construction companies, from painters to landscapers. The construction industry continues to be very prone to collusive activities. The NMa will therefore be keeping a close eye on this industry.
