Tropigas, Tomza Gas, Zeta Gas and Unigas are being investigated in El Salvador, for allegedly having agreed prices or other conditions in sales in the industrial LPG bulk market.
From a statement issued by the Superintendency of Competition:
April 12, 2018In March the Superintendence of Competition (SC) started a sanctioning administrative process to investigate a possible cartel in the industrial market for liquefiedpetroleumgas(LPG) in bulk, among four distributors, who may have agreed on prices or other conditions on sales from January 2013. The companies being investigated are: Tropigas de El Salvador, S.A. de C.V.; Tomza Gas de El Salvador, S.A. de C.V.; Zeta Gas de El Salvador, S.A. de C.V.; and Unigas de El Salvador, S.A. de C.V.
Salvadoran propane gas companies expect to double their sales by investing in distribution centers and upgrading their customer service.
Tropigas will invest $4 million in expanding its storage terminal in La Unión, while Tomza, of Mexican capital, projects to open 100 stores in the mid term, in addition to the 200 it currently operates in El Salvador. Zeta Gas would also conduct expansion plans, increasing its express centers to 225.
The gas distributor will expand its terminal in port La Unión, doubling its propane storage capacity.
Tropigas will invest between $4 million and $14 million in El Salvador, depending on the obligations assumed by the company. The General Director of Grupo Tropigás, Marco Martínez, told newspaper La Prensa Gráfica that "right now they are only having conversations with their partners and authorities of the Economy Ministry, with whom they will meet this week".