OREANDA-NEWS. September 26, 2013. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Rostov region (Rostov OFAS Russia) initiated a case against “Rostov Port” First Stevedoring Company” Ltd., “Golubaya Volna” SK” Ltd., “Don Port” Ltd., “Rostov Port” OJSC and “Moryak” OJSC for refusing transshipment of gray cement imported from Turkey (signs of violating Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”).

The case was initiated upon several petitions to the antimonopoly body from importers of gray cement, the Chamber of Trade and Industry of the Rostov region, and South Transport Prosecutor’s Office. Petitioners stated that from July 2013 ports in the Rostov region had refused transshipments of gray cement imported from Turkey.

“Rostov Port” First Stevedoring Company” Ltd., “Golubaya Volna” SK” Ltd., “Don Port” Ltd., “Rostov Port” OJSC and “Moryak” OJSC are the main organizations involved in transshipping imported cement in 2013. However, the companies stopped transshipping gray cement in spite of demand for it, as a result of which import decreased and prices for gray cement in the Rostov region increased and general goods circulation conditions on the market changed.

Having investigated the case, Rostov OFAS Russia concluded that there are no economic reasons for the ports to refuse transshipping cement from Turley.

Thus, actions of the economic entities have signs of violating Clause 5 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

“So far we have not received a reasonable explanation from the regional ports about the reasons for refusing to import gray cement form Turley. Such conduct of economic entities can be a sign of an anticompetitive agreement”, commented Deputy Head of Rostov OFAS Russia, Natalia Kozhemyako.