Rome, December 31, 2025 —The Italian authority has imposed €70 million (approximately $82.3 million) in fines on 16 cast iron foundries and the industry association Assofond after finding a long-running restrictive agreement in the national market for the sale of cast iron products.
The authority concluded that the companies and the association breached Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by coordinating commercial policies aimed at supporting price increases and strengthening bargaining power toward customers. The conduct was found to have lasted from February 5, 2004, to June 30, 2024.
Scope of the Infringement
The decision follows an investigation into major Italian producers, including C2MAC Group, Fonderia Corrà, Fonderie Orazio e Fortunato De Riccardis, Fonderie Guido Glisenti and its subsidiary Lead Time, Pilenga Baldassarre Foundry and parent E.F. Group, Fonderie Mora Gavardo and parent Camozzi Group, Zanardi Fonderie, VDP Fonderia, Fonderie Ariotti, Ironcastings, Fonderia Zardo, ZML Industries and parent Cividale, alongside Assofond.
According to the authority, the coordination focused on commercial strategies designed to preserve margins, particularly during periods of adverse economic conditions.
Price Coordination Mechanism
The authority found that the companies exchanged sensitive information and jointly developed price indexation mechanisms known as Assofond Indicators. These tools allowed foundries to update prices in a coordinated manner, progressively extending indexation to a broader portion of the price of cast iron products, including sales margins.
The authority said this coordination reinforced the suppliers’ negotiating position and reduced uncertainty over pricing behavior across the sector.
While the maximum applicable fines could have reached approximately €600 million, given the seriousness and duration of the conduct, the authority said it took into account the sector’s significant economic crisis when setting penalties at €70 million in total.
Source: https://www.agcm.it/media/comunicati-stampa/2025/12/I866
