29 July 2021, Budapest – The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has initiated an accelerated sector inquiry on the Hungarian market of masonry elements. This is the first time this investigative tool has been used since the Government expanded the toolbox of the GVH to allow the Authority to tackle the issues on the construction market more effectively.
The GVH has received several market signals, which indicated that developers are facing an increasing number of challenges during the procurement of ceramic masonry elements, in particular, bricks, beams, and dividing wall products: prices have increased drastically in the recent past, there are not sufficient quantities of products available, and in many cases, only the products of a single manufacturer are offered on the market.
In order to explore and assess market processes, the GVH has launched an accelerated sector inquiry, during which it conducted on-site investigations at manufacturers of bricks and other masonry elements, as well as construction material wholesalers, on 27th July 2021.
The accelerated sector inquiry includes the analysis of the competitive conditions prevalent on the Hungarian market of ceramic masonry elements, in particular, the use areas and market supply of the products in question, as well as specific business terms applied by the market players, including prices. As part of the accelerated sector inquiry, fact-finding based on mandatory submission of data can also be used by the Authority.
The GVH will summarise the results of the inquiry in a report. The time limit for the completion of the draft report is one month which, where justified, may be extended on two occasions by a maximum of one month each.
GVH Press Office