Cement cartels: flavour of the day
Policymakers need to implement an effective competition law that could be a
deterrent and policeman
Financial Express

Cement enterprises are the most favoured flavour of competition authorities around the world. Because they almost always collude as a cartel and fix prices, thus adversely affecting consumers and other businesses. In India the scene is no different. But they have never been prosecuted, because our extant competition law: the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act (MRTPA) is just not adequate to deal with them. One reason why we adopted a new Competition Act in 2002, but that too is dysfunctional awaiting amendments in the Parliament. Alas, we remain where we are, with a little respite coming through some cheaper imports from Pakistan.

Currently, we are witnessing a cartel-type behaviour in cement prices with everyone in the government, including the Prime Minister crying foul. All admit that we need a competition law, which can bite. The Parliamentary Standing Committee has gone through the proposed amendments in December, 2006.
The MRTPC too has woken to push the cement cartel case pending before it for several years. It has not succeeded in the past and thus there is little hope that it will do so in future. Both then and now the government has used import tariffs as the competition-promoting instrument. However, the cement industry is typical and imports may not always help.
Colluding firms do not record their agreements, which are always oral, often facilitated by their trade associations. On the other hand, courts do not accept evidence of implicit cartels based on parallel price movements. The new law in India has amnesty provisions, which allow a colluder to spill the beans, and are thus the best way through which competition authorities uncover damning evidence and action cartels.

In 1994, the European Commission levied fines to the extent of 248 million euros on six companies and the cement manufacturers’ association. In judicial appeals finally decided in January 2004, the fine was brought down by 140 million euros, and the fine on the trade association was nullified. These six included Lafarge and Holcim. Lafarge was fined with 187 million euros by the EC in 2003 for participating in another cartel, the third largest fine ever levied for being a habitual offender. In Taiwan, in December, 2005, Cemex, one of 11 manufacturers along with 10 distributors, were fined $6.3 million.

In Korea, in September 2003, the competition authority levied surcharges (fixed fines) of $22 million on seven companies in addition to $4,28,000 on the Korea Cement Manufacturers Association. In Argentina, five cement companies operated a cozy cartel during 1981-99, until caught and fined a whopping $107 million, the largest fine levied by the country’s competition regulator. In Romania, in 2005, three cement companies: Lafarge Romcim, Holcim and Heidelburg’s subsidiary — Carpatcement were fined 27 million euros or six per cent of their turnover. These three companies shared 98% of Romania’s cement market. The probe found that they had inflated prices by as much as 38%. The list is endless…and only goes on to prove what was said in the introduction of this article.

Let’s now take a look at countries, where there is no effective competition law, and how cement cartels behave. In December 2002, the price of cement had fallen to an exceptionally low £125 a tonne in Egypt. The drop had caused serious worry among the cement producers. In response, almost all local cement producers met and set a price range for cement between £167 and £176 a tonne. There was an outcry, but no action could be taken as Egypt did not have a competition law then. It has one now, in spite of strong business opposition, but is yet to become fully operational.

In Pakistan, which has a law similar to our own MRTPA, the authority did take action against cement cartels in October, 1998. Cement manufacturers raised the price of cement in a collective action from Rs 135 a bag to Rs 235 a bag. Enquiry by the Monopoly Control Authority probed to find that none of the input costs had gone up. The authority passed orders for reversion to the old prices and levied a fine. The order was stayed by the High Court. The Ministry of Commerce intervened and persuaded the MCA, despite the theoretical independence, to close the case.

Research in Philippines, which has no competition law, has shown that the cement industry has grown under heavy government protection. The market leader, a state enterprise, Philippines Cement Corporation decides which company produces how much and where it can sell. Collective price action has been seen from a long time. Analyses of cost structures show that in spite of differences, the selling price is uniform. Research in Malaysia shows that the local cement producers maybe indirectly affected by Lafarge’s international cartel arrangements.

If we look closer at the cement industry in India, it is the second largest in the world with total capacity of 151.2 mt, and growing. All major internationals: Holcim, Italocementi, Cemex and Lafarge are here. There are some significant domestic players like Gujarat Ambuja and Birlas, but they too are closely linked to the foreign players through cross holdings. Thus the disease is here to stay and grow in a culture of non-regulation, unless our policy makers are serious in dealing with the malady through an effective competition law which can not only be a deterrent but be a strong policeman.

Rains cloud cement prices
Business Standard, 10-06-07

Sanjay Ladiwala, president, Cement Stockist and Dealers’ Association of Bombay, spoke to Chandan Kishore Kant about the trends in the industry.

What will be the price trend during the monsoon this year?

Cement prices across the country will decline except in the southern market. As the current retail prices have reached a saturation point, a further rise is not on the cards.

In the south, rates may go up as demand is surging and the retreating monsoon is expected only by October.

How will demand be affected during the season?

There would be a 30-40 per cent decline in demand across the country. In Mumbai, there will be 30 per cent decline as many construction projects will be put on hold during the monsoon season.

What’s your take on the demand situation in Mumbai?

Compared with last year, cement consumption in the city has increased by 15 per cent from 5.4 lakh tonne to 6.2 lakh tonne per month. But, demand is 20 per cent higher than consumption.So, there is a gap in demand and supply in the market.

Your opinion on imported cement and how will it impact the market?

Right now, not a single bag of imported cement is available in the market as they are waiting for the green signal from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Besides, our ports are not equipped to handle more than 3,000 tonnes of cement per day. Currently, imports do not pose a threat.

How much price cuts do you expect in the Mumbai market?

Currently, the average wholesale price is Rs 230-235 a bag. In the retail market, it is ranging between Rs 255 and Rs 260 per bag. I see a cut of around Rs 5-10 in retail rates during the monsoon. It will happen only in July as there is still a pent-up demand.

Your views on the upcoming capacities in the country? Will they create a glut?

The upcoming 100 million tonne facilities will quench the rising demand for cement in the country. I do not think there would be a glut in the market as infrastructure projects are given importance by the government.