Russian watchdog sees 10 more cases over high stevedore prices

MOSCOW, Jun 29 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service plans to open over 10 more cases against stevedore companies in the near future over high prices of their services at ports, Director Igor Artemyev told reporters Wednesday.

The regulator recently said it had already opened nine antimonopoly cases against stevedore companies. The watchdog has uncovered that prices of stevedore companies’ services grew by two and a half times on average after the price regulation was abolished in 2013.

Artemyev said the service opposed deregulation in this sector, as competition among stevedore companies is high.

“Actually, unfortunately, this led to such an increase of corresponding tariffs at ports, which now “eats up” a half of the entire cost of cargo transportation,” Artemyev said.

The watchdog will pursue stevedore companies until they reduce prices and abolish tariffs in foreign currency, he said.

“They will be punished if we manage to win the cases at court. We will pursue them until the end, until tariffs are reduced, until they cease setting corresponding tariffs in foreign currency,” Artemyev said.

The watchdog is discussing a return to price regulation for stevedore services at ports, he also said.

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