Companies fined are Jean Thébault (e898,000), Plysorol (e4.2m), Rougier Panneaux (e558,900), Etablissements A Mathé (e260,800), Etablissements Guy Joubert (e1.5m) and Etablissements Allin (e726,300).
The Conseil’s investigation focused mainly on gaboon plywood. The plywood companies were found to have set up a common price scale which served as a basis for fixing the prices of their different products based on the price of a standard panel. The practice continued between 1987-2004 and involved all products containing gaboon, used widely in the construction, furniture and packaging sectors.
French plywood manufacturers fined for price-fixing
Six French plywood manufacturers have been fined a total of e8m for engaging in a price-fixing cartel which lasted 17 years. UPM escaped a fine after it blew the whistle on the cartel, described by the French competition authority Conseil de la Concurrence as “very serious” and damaging to the economy. Almost 70% of exotic plywood sales in France are thought to have been affected by the price-fixing.