The Belgian Economy Price Observatory has reviewed various sectors and identified a potential lack of competition that may adversely affect consumers, pricing, and the country’s economic competitiveness, it announced on Thursday.
The Observatory highlighted signs of possible market dysfunction in sectors such as construction materials (cement, bricks), food industries (potatoes and sugar), electronics, and leasing.
There are notable differences in profitability within these sectors, which may be influenced by the potential lack of competition, impacting consumers and pricing dynamics negatively.
The Observatory has submitted its findings to the Belgian Competition Authority and is considering more detailed studies in these areas.
Their annual study, covering the period from 2018 to 2023, examined the functioning of markets and margin developments across the Belgian economy’s trade sectors, focusing on competition, entry barriers, and profitability.
After a decline in 2022, the net margin of the industrial and service sectors stabilised in 2023, though significant disparities persist across different sectors.
