Asempre accuses Correos of restricting competition in postal sector

The Spanish national postal service, Correos, will be investigated by the Economy ministry for alleged abuse of its dominant position in the market. Following a complaint by 200 private-sector operators in the market, the restrictive practices authority will look into whether there is truth in allegations that the state-controlled company is attempting to remove competitors with practices that are illegal under article six of the law on the defence of competition.

The private operators, through the Spanish association of postal companies (Asempre), are accusing Correos of offering discounts of 50 per cent to clients using its services exclusively, and of using the grants that it receives for serving every part of the country to reduce the price of other services. Correos, for its part, denies the allegations, and claims that Asempre has no proof to support its accusations.