Taiwan: Electronics makers slapped with record price-fixing fine

Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission said on Wednesday it is imposing a record fine for price-fixing of $5.8 billion New Taiwan dollars ($176 million) on several Japanese electronic component suppliers, together with a U.S. competitor.

The commission charged Nippon Chemi-con, Rubycon, ELNA, Sanyo, Nichicon, NEC Tokin, Matsuo Electric, and U.S.-based Vishay Polytech with colluding over the past 10 years to manipulate the market. Spokesmen for the companies were not immediately available for comment.

The companies supply aluminum and tantalum capacitors to electronics manufacturers. The components are mainly used in to make devices such as power supply units, personal computers, home appliances, smartphones and game consoles.

“The manipulation of prices led to a higher-than-expected material cost for electronics makers in Taiwan, which could have a negative impact on local companies’ profits,” said Chiu Yung-ho, vice chairman of the commission.

According to the antitrust watchdog, the suppliers generated sales from the Taiwan market totaling NT$66 billion ($2 billion) over the 10 years they are accused of having worked together to set prices. Taiwanese officials said they have been working closely together with authorities in the U.S., the European Union and Singapore on the case.

Full content: Taipei Times

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