ANTITRUST | The Competition Authority fined six undertakings active in the motor vehicle fuel market for an anticompetitive agreement

On 23 September 2025, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) sanctioned Eni, Esso, Ip, Q8, Saras and Tamoil (the Companies) for having participated to an anticompetitive cartel (the Cartel) which was investigated by the ICA following a report by a whistleblower. The Cartel, which lasted for approximately three years, consisted of direct and indirect exchange of information aimed at coordinating the price of a significant component of the fuel. The collusive strategy adopted by the Companies was triggered and facilitated by a system of public announcements by oil companies in a famous national newspaper, which was firstly implemented by one of the Companies through the disclosure of its fuel prices. According to the ICA, the said exchange of information resulted in the creation of artificial transparency in the relevant market regarding one element of the fuel price, which provided the Companies with a precise benchmark against which to set their own prices and ensured the stability of the collusion.

Newsletter n. 111 – October 2025