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KFTC Probes Paint Industry Over Suspected Price-Fixing Amid Cost Surge

By  |  March 30, 2026
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South Korea’s antitrust regulator has launched a sweeping investigation into major paint manufacturers following a wave of price increases tied to rising raw material costs, according to a statement from industry sources on Sunday (March 29).

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    The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) recently sent investigators to the headquarters of leading paint companies, including KCC, Noroo Paint, Samhwa Paint Co., Ltd., Kangnam Jevisco, and Chokwang Paint. Investigators also visited the office of the Korea Paint & Printing Ink Industry Cooperative as part of on-site inspections, per a statement from sources familiar with the matter.

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    The probe centers on whether the companies allegedly engaged in unfair practices or coordinated actions when raising prices for paint and related products. According to a statement from industry insiders, the regulator is examining patterns of simultaneous price hikes that may suggest collusion.

    Read more: South Korea Fines Pork Processors for Price-Fixing in Retail Supply Deals

    Recent increases across the sector have been significant. According to a statement, Noroo Paint and Samhwa Paint Co., Ltd. raised prices by between 20% and 55% beginning on the 23rd. Meanwhile, KCC informed distributors nationwide that it plans to increase supply prices by 10% to 40% starting next month. Kangnam Jevisco is also preparing to raise prices by more than 15%, with additional increases expected across the industry.

    Companies have defended the adjustments, citing surging costs of key raw materials. Per a statement from the firms, the increases are largely driven by higher prices for naphtha, a critical input in paint production, which has become more expensive amid disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

    Despite these explanations, regulators remain cautious. According to a statement, the KFTC is considering whether the timing and scale of the price hikes indicate prior coordination among competitors, noting that similar synchronized increases have occurred in the past.

    Source: Chosun