Poland’s competition regulator has issued fines totaling roughly €80 million over an alleged price-fixing scheme in the agricultural machinery sector, marking its largest enforcement action so far this year.
The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) said a Polish importer orchestrated coordinated pricing across a network of related dealerships, resulting in uniform prices for farmers purchasing equipment from brands such as New Holland and Steyr, regardless of the point of sale.
UOKiK said the practice effectively removed price competition at the retail level, preventing farmers from taking advantage of discounts or regional market variations and undermining fair competition.
The decision follows an earlier investigation into the sale of Claas machinery, which led to fines of around €40 million. As with that case, the latest ruling can still be appealed, and the companies involved retain the right to challenge the decision in court.
