Germany imposed a fine of 59 million euros on Amazon.

Record Fine for Amazon from Germany: 59 Million Euros

The German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) determined that Amazon pressured third-party sellers’ prices on its platform using non-transparent methods. As a result, Amazon has been fined a total of 59 million euros.

Abuse of Market Power

The statement expressed that Amazon, which holds approximately 60% of online sales in Germany, removes products from the platform or restricts their visibility when it finds the prices of third-party sellers to be "high."

Federal Cartel Office President Andreas Mundt emphasized that such practices by Amazon threaten free competition, stating, “Amazon cannot misuse its market power by manipulating competitors’ prices.”

First Fine and Renewed Authority

This fine is the first to be imposed under the new authority framework established in 2023. Amazon not only sells many products directly but also offers a sales platform for other retailers through Amazon Marketplace.

The office highlighted that Amazon uses statistical models to set "dynamic and varying price ceilings" for third-party offers. When these ceilings are exceeded, products are removed from featured shopping tools or completely taken off the platform.

Amazon to Appeal

In statements from Amazon, the rejection of these accusations drew attention. Rocco Brauniger, Amazon Germany's Senior Executive, claimed that the decision contradicts European Union competition standards and stated that they would appeal.

Brauniger noted that if Amazon is required to "declare non-competitive prices," it would create a poor shopping experience. This situation could have negative effects for both sellers and consumers.