EU Launches Priority Probe into Alleged Market Abuse in Paper Supply Chain

The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into whether Swiss-based Omya abused a potentially dominant position in the calcium carbonate market by requiring paper industry customers to purchase all or most of their supplies from the company. Omya is the European Economic Area’s (EEA) largest supplier of calcium carbonates, which are used as fillers and coating pigments to reduce paper production costs and influence smoothness and printability. Investigators are examining exclusive purchasing obligations and rebates that financially incentivize customers to buy predominantly from Omya. The concern is these practices may have restricted competing suppliers’ access to the European paper industry. No deadline has been set for concluding the investigation.

Read more on The Brussel Times.