JV of BHP and Rio Tinto intensifies concentration of iron ore market

The European steel industry restates its strong reservations against the joint venture of the iron ore companies BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, which now has been signed by the two mining giants. “The joint venture which has been agreed by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto will combine their production and infrastructure facilities and will unavoidably lead to market concentration and an increase in pricing power of the combined company which is unacceptable in competition terms”, said EUROFER director general Gordon Moffat. “We believe that this is a full-function joint venture which will not be different from the full merger attempted last year. It must be fully examined by the European competition authorities.”

EUROFER has already asked the Commission to reject this joint venture.

Represented by EUROFER, the European steel industry is the world leader in its sector with a turnover of EUR 190 billion and direct employment of 420 thousand people, producing 200 million tonnes of steel per year.

Contact
Gordon Moffat, Director General +32 2 738 79 26 (g.moffat@eurofer.be)
Jeroen Vermeij, Director Market Analysis & Economic Studies +32 2 738 79 36 (j.vermeij@eurofer.be)
Axel Eggert, Director Public Affairs +32 2 738 79 34 (a.eggert@eurofer.be)