Commission fines producers and traders of synthetic rubber € 519 million for price fixing cartel

Brussels, 29th November 2006

The European Commission has fined five groups of companies a total of € 519 million for participating in a cartel to fix prices and share customers for certain types of synthetic rubber (Butadiene Rubber - BR and Emulsion Styrene Butadiene Rubber - ESBR), in violation of the EC Treaty’s ban on restrictive business practices (Article 81).

Companies belonging to the groups Eni, Bayer, Shell, Dow, Unipetrol and Trade-Stomil operated the cartel from at least 1996 to 2002. Synthetic rubbers BR and ESBR are extensively used for the production of tyres as well as for the production of other consumer goods.

The fines on ENI, Shell and Bayer were increased because these companies had already been found guilty of taking part in cartels (although Bayer does not have to pay its fine because it received full immunity for having been the first company to reveal the cartel to the Commission). The overall fine is the second highest imposed by the Commission in a cartel case, and brings the total amount of cartel fines imposed this year to €1.843 billion - a new annual record for the Commission.

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