The Polish competition authority has announced significant penalties amounting to approximately 340 million PLN against CNH Industrial Polska and seven dealers for engaging in anti-competitive practices in the agricultural machinery market.

The companies were found to have divided the market and fixed prices, preventing farmers from purchasing New Holland, Case, and Steyr machinery at competitive prices from selected dealers.

UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny emphasized that the collusion eliminated competition, depriving farmers of the ability to compare offers and choose the best deals, which is particularly burdensome given the high costs of purchasing new tractors or combines.

Evidence collected during searches revealed that CNH Industrial Polska played a leading role in the cartel, coordinating communication among dealers and enforcing territorial restrictions on sales. Dealers were instructed to redirect customers outside their designated areas to local sellers or offer them higher prices.

The total fines imposed include 241.6 million PLN on CNH Industrial Polska and various amounts on the other dealers involved. The decision is not final and can be appealed in court.

Chróstny noted that this is not the first decision regarding agricultural machinery sales, as previous actions have targeted other brands, and ongoing investigations are in progress for additional manufacturers.