Study shows CADE’s performance in 2025

On 18 March, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) published a document estimating the benefits of the agency’s work in investigating anticompetitive conduct and reviewing mergers through 2025.

CADE’s actions resulted in around BRL 22.7 billion in social benefits.

The survey also indicates that the moving average of the benefits accrued from 2023 to 2025 amount BRL 16 billion, highlighting the relevance of promoting a more competitive and fairer market. For instance, the collection of fines and financial contributions increased from BRL 206 million in 2023 to BRL 305.8 million in 2024.

Among the cases analysed, unilateral conduct cases represented the largest share of the estimated benefits, totalling around BRL 20 billion, followed by cartel cases amounting nearly BRL 1.4 billion, and mergers, about BRL 1.3 billion.

The cases involved different economic sectors, such as mobile apps, offshore currency exchange, infrastructure services, fuel distribution and resale, pharmaceutical inputs, as well as pet products and services.

The document also notes that, in 2025, the Tribunal of CADE imposed fines totalling BRL 301 million, and levied BRL 390 million in financial contributions from signatures of cease and desist agreements, totalling BRL 691 million.

Furthermore, the study highlights that the estimates are conservative in nature, as they do not consider the dynamic effects of decisions, the deterring impact on anticompetitive practices, nor the results of educational initiatives and competition enforcement.

Access the document here!