MEXICO CITY, April 23, 2026 — Mexico’s National Antitrust Commission (CNA) has filed a class-action lawsuit seeking compensation for consumers allegedly harmed by a long-running cartel in the liquefied petroleum (LP) gas market.
The lawsuit targets 53 companies accused of colluding for more than a decade to manipulate prices and divide customers in Mexico City, the State of Mexico, and several municipalities in Colima, Tamaulipas and Sinaloa.
Cartel findings underpin lawsuit
The action follows an earlier decision by the authority that found several major industry groups—including Grupo Soni, Grupo Simsa, Grupo Nieto, Grupo Tomza, Grupo Global Gas and Gas Metropolitano—had entered into a collusive agreement to fix prices and allocate customers.
According to the CNA, the illegal conduct led to inflated LP gas prices and consumer harm exceeding 13 billion pesos (around $760 million).
Seeking compensation for consumers
The class action aims to ensure that, in addition to administrative fines already imposed, the companies compensate affected households.
The authority is asking the court to order the companies to grant price discounts on LP gas to consumers in the affected regions, as a way of repairing the harm caused by the cartel.
Essential household fuel
LP gas plays a central role in Mexican households. According to national energy consumption data, around eight in ten families rely on LP gas as their main cooking fuel, meaning price increases directly affect household budgets across the country.
The CNA said the case demonstrates its commitment to using all available enforcement tools to punish anti-competitive conduct and deliver tangible benefits to consumers.
“With this action, the Commission reaffirms its commitment to a competition policy that strongly sanctions companies that abuse the population,” the authority said in a statement.
