Mexico’s Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio (CNA) has launched a sweeping collective lawsuit seeking compensation for consumers harmed by a long-running cartel in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market. The action targets 53 companies accused of colluding for more than a decade to manipulate prices and divide customers across multiple regions of the country.
According to the CNA, the case stems from a prior enforcement decision that uncovered a coordinated scheme involving major industry players, including Grupo Soni, Grupo Simsa, Grupo Nieto, Grupo Tomza, Grupo Global Gas, and Gas Metropolitano. These companies allegedly engaged in illegal agreements to fix prices and allocate customers in key markets such as Mexico City and State of Mexico, as well as in parts of Colima, Tamaulipas, and Sinaloa.
The authority estimates that the cartel imposed overcharges that resulted in consumer harm exceeding 13 billion pesos. While administrative fines have already been imposed, the CNA is now seeking direct redress for affected households through the courts.
Central to the lawsuit is a proposal that the companies compensate consumers by offering discounts on LPG prices in the impacted regions. The CNA argues that such a remedy would provide tangible restitution to millions of families who rely on LPG as a basic household necessity.
The case carries significant social and economic weight. LPG is the primary cooking fuel for roughly 80% of Mexican households, meaning that inflated prices have had a direct effect on everyday living costs. By pursuing collective damages, the authority is signaling a more assertive approach to enforcement—one that goes beyond sanctions and aims to deliver measurable consumer benefits.
In its statement, the CNA emphasized that the action reflects its broader commitment to using all available legal tools to deter anticompetitive conduct and hold companies accountable when their behavior harms the public.
