May 17, 2023
Japan Fair Trade Commission
The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) today issued a warning to SAN-AI Retail Service Co., Ltd. (SAN-AI Retail Service) that operates a gas station in Tsuchiura city, Ibaraki Prefecture.
In this case, SAN-AI Retail Service was likely to be in violation of the provision of Article 19 (Unjust Low Price Sales [ Article 2 – 9 (3) ]) of the Antimonopoly Act.
SAN-AI Retail Service had supplied regular gasoline at a low price continuously for thirty-six days, from January 31 to March 7, 2023, which was excessively below the costs required for supply, thereby being likely to cause difficulties to the business activities of other petroleum products retailers in the surrounding area of its gas station.
The JFTC issued cautions to 4 petroleum products retailers (6 gas stations) in Tsuchiura city, Ibaraki Prefecture. They had supplied regular gasoline at a price which competed with or was in line with that of SAN-AI Retail Service for some days in addition to the period as described above, which was likely to lead to unjust low price sales.
