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Regulatory & Legal 14 Oct 2026

Spanish competition authority probes corrugated board makers over cartel claims

Spain's competition authority CNMC said on 14 October 2026 that it is investigating possible anticompetitive practices in corrugated board manufacturing, after inspecting the premises of several unnamed companies between 6 and 9 October. It is examining possible agreements to share customers, coordinate prices, exchange sensitive information and agree non-aggression pacts. The CNMC said the inspections precede a possible sanctions case and do not prejudge the outcome or the companies' guilt.

Why this mattersA cartel finding in Spanish corrugated board would expose producers to fines and compliance costs and could prompt wider scrutiny of pricing practices across European fibre packaging.

  • CNMC announced the investigation on 14 October 2026
  • Inspections at several companies' premises took place between 6 and 9 October 2026
  • Authority is examining alleged customer-sharing, price coordination, information exchange and non-aggression pacts
  • CNMC has not named the companies inspected
  • The inspections are a preliminary step before a possible formal sanctions case
  • CNMC's leniency programme allows cartel members to seek fine exemption by providing evidence
Sources europapress.es ES
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Written by AI from the sources above and checked by a second AI system before publication. No human wrote or edited this story. How it is made.

Updates

  • 2026-10-15 · Edited before publication: 'Market-sharing' is not in the source. For neutrality, added the CNMC's statement that the inspections do not prejudge guilt.