The Turkish Competition Board (TCB) has fined Şişecam and its subsidiary, Çevre Sistemleri, $75.3 million for violating commitments related to raw glass procurement practices set in a 2021 decision. According to Reuters and Concurrences – Antitrust Case Laws e-Bulletin, the TCB found that Şişecam failed to comply with measures designed to prevent anti-competitive behavior in the market for unprocessed and waste glass.
In 2021, the TCB determined that Şişecam had used its buyer power to restrict competitors’ access to furnace-ready cullet by engaging in price squeezing, narrowing the margin between waste glass and processed glass prices. The authority concluded that such actions undermined rival suppliers’ profitability and excluded them from the market.
Şişecam had previously agreed to a set of commitments, including annual audits for five years, limits on third-party furnace-ready glass procurement to 35%, and mandatory notifications to the TCB regarding asset transactions. However, a 2024 follow-up inspection found that the company failed to meet these conditions. 
Şişecam stated in a public disclosure that it intends to appeal the decision. The fine coincides with a separate investigation involving former board chair Ahmet Kirman, who faces allegations of fraud and tax evasion.
Source: dailysabah.com with additional information added by Glass Balkan
