Finland opens probe into asphalt paving competition practices

Excavators construct a road in the forests of Rusko, Finland. Image: Adobe Stock

In a statement issued 21 May, the authority said it is examining whether there has been “prohibited cooperation between competitors.” The inspections, it added, are a preliminary step and do not imply guilt nor presume wrongdoing.

Two companies have publicly acknowledged involvement in the investigation process.

Roadworks construction firm GRK Suomi, a subsidiary of GRK Infra, confirmed that its premises were inspected. Separately, construction contractor Peab Industri said it is cooperating fully with the FCCA, emphasising that the initiation of the inquiry “does not in itself mean that [the company] has been guilty of anti-competitive conduct or that the outcome of the investigation can be preempted.”

The FCCA has not disclosed the full list of companies subject to inspection.

This new investigation comes more than two decades after a landmark cartel case rocked the Finnish asphalt sector. Between 1994 and 2002, several large contractors – then including Lemminkäinen – were found to have colluded on pricing and market sharing, leading to overcharges estimated at €478 million (US$542 million). The resulting fines and civil damages remain among the largest ever awarded in Finland.

While the current case is still in early stages, the FCCA signalled a continued focus on safeguarding competition in the infrastructure and roadbuilding markets. The authority said it will evaluate the findings before deciding whether to initiate a formal infringement procedure.

If pertinenet, further updates will follow as the agency reviews the evidence collected during its inspections.

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