Estonian Competition Authority Warns Fuel Sellers on Public Price Comments

Estonia's Competition Authority has sent a recommendation to fuel retailers, drawing attention to competition law risks from price signals in public communications. The agency aims to prevent situations where companies' public comments about fuel prices or possible future changes could reduce the commercial uncertainty of market participants and influence competition, potentially leading to violations.

Eugen Elison Kask, head of the Competition Protection Service, stated that the recommendation does not restrict public communication but highlights cases where comments may give competitors signals about future price changes or strategy. "Competition works better when companies shape their pricing policies independently and do not rely on competitors' hints or expectations," he said.

In a press release, the authority noted that public comments by fuel retailers about the fuel market have become more frequent recently. At the same time, public and market participants' interest in how fuel prices are formed and in the content of public messages concerning them has increased. The agency said competition functions effectively above all when companies make their decisions independently and do not have information about their competitors' future intentions. Public hints about price changes or market strategies may provide guidance to competitors and reduce their uncertainty regarding future market behaviour.

The authority calls on companies to refrain from public price messages that may reduce the uncertainty necessary for competition to function.