June 4, 2025 – International chemical giant Clariant has been thrust into a fresh antitrust litigation storm after receiving a €1 billion damages lawsuit filed by the Dutch OMV Group at the Amsterdam Court on May 26. This marks the fifth such legal action against Clariant in the past two years, intensifying scrutiny over its market practices in Europe’s chemical sector.
Industry sources, including the Color Masterbatch Industry Network, reveal that since October 2023, multinational corporations such as Shell, BASF, TotalEnergies, and Dow have initiated parallel lawsuits across multiple European jurisdictions against Clariant and three other companies, seeking a combined €4.792 billion in damages. All complaints allege the defendants engaged in monopolistic practices in the ethylene procurement market, allegedly violating EU competition laws.
Clariant responded defiantly in an official statement, vowing to “rigorously defend its rights and interests.” The company emphasized it has submitted extensive economic data demonstrating its market activities did not substantially impact ethylene pricing. Notably, the European Commission previously fined Clariant €156 million in 2020 as part of a €260 million penalty package against related firms for alleged antitrust violations in the same market.
Analysts say the wave of litigation reflects escalating competitive tensions in Europe’s chemical industry amid global energy transitions, which are reshaping market dynamics for foundational materials like ethylene. Whether Clariant can navigate this legal quagmire unscathed has become a key indicator of competitive trends in the European chemical landscape.
With the cases still pending, Clariant stated it is fully prepared to contest the claims while maintaining focus on its core business operations. The market awaits the final rulings, which could have far-reaching implications for global chemical supply chain stability and antitrust enforcement norms in the sector.