Global antitrust enforcement report

Last year, global cartel fines reached USD3.3 billion, the highest annual figure since 2021 (USD4bn). Enforcement by the European Commission (EC) and EU member states accounted for USD2.6bn of the total. 

Price-fixing remained the most enforced form of cartel conduct in 2025, closely followed by bid-rigging. Authorities are also targeting the use of algorithms and public communications to facilitate anticompetitive outcomes. 

Agri-food, energy, transport, life sciences, construction, and digital markets are in the spotlight as authorities align with government policies to protect essential consumer spend and encourage economic growth. 

Authorities showed an increasing appetite to use “soft” enforcement tools such as commitments, settlement and guidance.