18.05.2011 • News • cartel • sodium chlorate • Elf Aquitaine

EU Court Upholds €59 Million Fine on Arkema, Elf

Europe's second-highest court on Tuesday upheld European Union antitrust fines totaling €59 million ($84 million) on French groups Elf Aquitaine and Arkema for participating in a cartel in a paper-bleaching chemical.

The General Court upheld a 2008 ruling they had fixed prices for sodium chlorate, divided up market volumes and shared sensitive information in a cartel with several other firms from 1995-2000.

Elf Aquitaine later merged with French oil major Total and spun off chemicals group Arkema France.

The cartel also included Finnish Chemicals, Erikem of Luxembourg, Spanish firm Aragonesas/Uralita, Swedish group EKA Chemicals and Dutch company AkzoNobel.

Sodium chlorate is mainly used to produce chlorine dioxide used in the pulp and paper industry to bleach wood pulp.

Interview

Stability in Motion
Strategic Response to a Shifting Pharma Landscape

Stability in Motion

Stefan Oelrich, Member of the Board of Management and President Pharmaceuticals, Bayer, discusses navigating external volatility, reshaping its internal structures, and investing in future-ready capabilities to ensure sustainable growth.

Special Issue

Circular Plastics Economy
Explore the Future of Plastics

Circular Plastics Economy

This special CHEManager issue explores the industry’s pivotal shift towards a more sustainable, circular plastics value chain. Readers will find expert analysis and real-world solutions for today’s most pressing recycling and regulatory challenges.

Top-Feature

most read

Photo
28.07.2025 • News • Chemistry

VCI Welcomes US-EU Customs Deal

The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) welcomes the fact that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and US President Donald Trump have averted the danger of a trade war for the time being.