The Spanish National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) is investigating possible anticompetitive practices in the international moving services market in Spain. Between 20 and 23 October 2025, CNMC officials carried out inspections at the offices of several companies operating in this sector.
The investigation focuses on possible agreements to share markets, fix prices or commercial conditions, and exchange commercially sensitive information. These practices would affect door-to-door transport of furniture and household goods, including exports from Spain to other countries, imports into Spain, and moves between third countries.
If confirmed, these behaviors could infringe Article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act (Ley de Defensa de la Competencia, LDC) and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). They might also represent a breach of a CNMC sanctioning decision issued on 6 September 2016 (Case S/DC/0544/14).
In 2016, the CNMC fined 15 moving companies for engaging in similar market-sharing and price-fixing practices. The National High Court later upheld the decision regarding the conduct. After that ruling, the CNMC opened a monitoring procedure to ensure that the sanctioned companies complied with the decision and ceased their unlawful behavior.
During this monitoring process, the CNMC detected new signs of possible restrictive practices. As a result, in October 2025 it carried out on-site inspections at several companies active in the international moving sector. These inspections are a preliminary step in the investigation and do not imply any finding of guilt or liability.
If the CNMC confirms evidence of prohibited conduct under the LDC or the TFEU, it may open formal infringement proceedings. The authority also reminds companies that both collusive agreements and failure to comply with CNMC resolutions are considered very serious infringements under the Spanish Competition Act. Such conduct can be punished with fines of up to 10% of a company’s total turnover.
