NMa: No further investigation into price increase for beer

The NMa has investigated whether possible cartel agreements may have been involved in the price increases to beer that breweries introduced earlier this year, around the carnival season (around February/March). The information obtained does not give enough reason to carry out further investigation.

The NMa investigated, among other things, the reasons behind the price increases. Most of the breweries said the most important reason for this price increase was rising raw material prices, particularly for malt and hops. The NMa came to the conclusion that raw materials prices had indeed risen. No agreements between the breweries on the price increases for beer were ascertained. The price increases were announced and introduced by the beer breweries at different times and the various breweries raised their prices by different percentages. The NMa also contacted people who had spoken in the media about possible pricing agreements between breweries. No additional facts emerged from these interviews however.


The NMa therefore concludes that the information obtained does not give sufficient reason to carry out further investigation into these price increases. The NMa will continue to keep a close eye on the beer sector. The Food & Agriculture industry is a main focus of the NMa and the competition authority will therefore remain alert to any practices in this sector that could be in violation of the Competition Act.