In March, in the Karaganda region, as well as in other regions of Kazakhstan, sugar prices rose sharply. The price has risen from 275 to 470 tenge per kg. Excessive demand arose amid rumors about the imminent depletion of sugar reserves in the country, Kazpravda.kz correspondent reports.
This situation has become a signal for action for the Karaganda anti-monopolists. They analyzed the local wholesale sugar market.
It turned out that four large suppliers, namely Samadi-1 LLP, Adal-Aspan LLP, Aron KZ LLP and ErAi-2012 LLP, simultaneously reduced and increased prices for their goods. This happened in periods - from August to December last year and in January-February of this year. The anti-monopolists saw signs of price collusion there.
As a result, the department of the Agency for Protection and Development of Competition issued notifications to the sellers of sugar to eliminate violations within 30 days. If the wholesalers do not fulfill it, then the antimonopoly agency will have to launch a full-fledged investigation. It can result in large fines and collection of illegal monopoly income.
