CADE signs agreement with union of cement industry

On 18 March, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) signed a Cease and Desist Agreement with the Brazilian union for the industry of cement products (Sinaprocim), after an investigation of alleged antitrust violations in the adhesive mortar market.

The investigation started in February 2025, after a complaint that claimed Sinaprocim fed market agents with information to discourage the commercialisation of products from specific suppliers, possibly causing negative competition effects.

According to the enquiry, the conducts are related to the disclosure of information on the technical compliance of products in the scope of the sectoral quality programme (PSQ) that could, in theory, induce commercial restrictions, reputational harm, and market foreclosure. In their defence, the union stated that their activities have technical and informative natures, aimed at protecting consumers and improving product quality.

Under the agreement’s terms, Sinaprocim committed to ensure that their communication has informative, neutral, and impersonal nature, no individual companies or products may be identified, nor may practices be adopted to induce discrimination among economic agents. It also established commitments regarding equal treatment within the scope of the PSQ, in addition to the adoption of transparency measures, such as the periodic submission of communications carried out in the industry and record keeping that allows for the monitoring of compliance with the obligations to CADE.

In case of non-compliance, the Cease and Desist Agreement also provides for monitoring mechanisms and penalties, including the imposition of fines, and remains in force for three years, with the possibility of being extended, subject to CADE’s assessment.

Access Case no. 08700.003048/2023-99.