[REVISION HISTORY]

Bundeskartellamt price enforcement actions

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2026-08-10 17:26 UTC → 2026-08-14 06:40 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In July 2026, the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) imposed €11.9 million in fines on three tyre-distribution firms for a vertical “margin-guarantee” scheme that forced minimum margins on Maxxis and CST brand tyres. The companies cooperated, resulting in reduced penalties, and the fines remain subject to appeal. Following this, the regulator expanded its scrutiny to the fuel sector. Bundeskartellamt President Andreas Mundt confirmed that the data-driven investigation into refinery pricing is proceeding as planned, with the Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf upholding the obligation for refinery operators to provide requested data. Simultaneously, state-level authorities are investigating widespread violations of the “12-o’clock rule,” a regulation introduced in April that limits fuel stations to a single price increase per day at noon. In Schleswig-Holstein, officials identified approximately 21,000 potential breaches. In Berlin, the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Enterprises reported thousands of instances of unauthorized price increases during April and May. The Bundeskartellamt noted that 193 stations nationwide managing prices from Berlin are under suspicion. To date, 79 administrative offense proceedings have been initiated. While the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels (MTS-K) monitors compliance, enforcement and penalties are managed by state authorities. ~~These investigations follow price volatility linked to geopolitical tensions~~ The regulation has impacted station operations; the Central Association of the Gas Station Trade (ZTG) reports a decline in shop sales as customers rush to refuel before the ~~Hormuz Strait and recent federal energy tax cuts.~~ noon hike. In Brandenburg, authorities are still preparing a legal ordinance to establish an enforcement body capable of issuing fines that can reach up to 100,000 euros.

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