Turkey's Competition Board opens probe into 18 crop protection and nutrition firms

August 28, 2026 at 05:16 PM3 min

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Turkey's Competition Board has opened an investigation into 18 companies operating in the crop protection and plant nutrition products market over suspected exchange of competitively sensitive information. The probe will examine whether sharing of product prices, sales volumes, targets, payment terms and discount rates reduced strategic uncertainty among rivals. The board said opening the investigation does not mean the companies violated the law or will face sanctions.

Key Facts

The Competition Board launched an investigation into 18 enterprises in the crop protection or plant nutrition products market.
The probe focuses on suspected exchange of competitively sensitive information such as product-based prices, sales volumes, targets, payment terms and discount rates.
The board will assess whether the information sharing reduced strategic uncertainty among rivals and could lead to coordination in the plant nutrition or crop protection markets.
Companies under investigation include BASF Agricultural Solutions Turkey, Syngenta Tarım, FMC Turkey, Nufarm Turkey and UPL Ziraat.
The board stated that opening an investigation does not mean the enterprises violated the law or will face sanctions.

Investigation Scope

The Competition Board announced the investigation into 18 enterprises active in the crop protection or plant nutrition products market. The probe aims to determine whether the companies violated the Law on the Protection of Competition through exchange of competitively sensitive information. Crop protection products are designed to protect plants from pests, diseases and harmful organisms. Plant nutrition products aim to increase plant health, efficiency and productivity by providing essential nutrients and improving physiological processes.

Sensitive Information Exchange

The investigation will examine the possible effects on competition of enterprises sharing product-based prices and sales volumes, targets to be achieved, applied payment terms and discount rates. The board will assess whether such information sharing could reduce strategic uncertainty among rivals and lead to coordination in the plant nutrition or crop protection markets. The assessment will be conducted within the scope of the Law on the Protection of Competition.

Companies Under Investigation

The enterprises under investigation include Adama Turkey Tarım Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd Şti., Agrobest Grup Tarım İlaçları Tohumculuk İmalat İthalat İhracat Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, and Agrofarm Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ. Other companies named are AMC-TR Tarım Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, Astranova Tarım Ticaret ve Sanayi AŞ, BASF Agricultural Solutions Turkey Kimya Ticaret AŞ, and Ertar Kimya Tarım Ürünleri ve Aletleri İmalat Pazarlama Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. The list also includes Ferbis Tarım Ticaret ve Sanayi AŞ, Sunset Kimya Tarım Ürünleri ve Aletleri İmalat ve Pazarlama Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, FMC Turkey Endüstri Ürünleri Sanayi Ltd. Şti., and Lances Link Kimya ve İlaç Sanayi Ticaret AŞ. Nufarm Turkey Kimyevi Maddeler İthalat ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti., Platin Kimya Mümessillik ve Dış Tic. AŞ, Safa Tarım AŞ, UPL Ziraat Ve Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti., Sumi Agro Turkey Tarım İlaçları Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, Syngenta Tarım Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ and Tarkim Bitki Koruma Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ are also under investigation. The board stated that investigation decisions do not mean the enterprises violated the law or face or will face sanctions.