8 Xiaoliuqiu ferry operators fined NT$11 million for price fixing

Taipei, April 16 (CNA) Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on Wednesday said it had issued fines totaling NT$11 million (US$338,683) to eight companies operating ferries to Xiaoliuqiu island for illegally coordinating to raise their ticket prices.

In a decision issued Wednesday, the commission said the eight companies, which operate ferries between Pingtung's Donggang Harbor and Xiaoliuqiu, a popular tourist destination off Taiwan's southwest coast, had engaged in "concerted actions" in violation of laws regulating fair competition.

Prior to the illegal actions, in 2022, the companies had offered guests at Xiaoliuqiu guesthouses standard round-trip tickets at prices below NT$370 and discount tickets for children and seniors at prices below NT$200, the commission said.

In November and December 2022, two of the companies, Leuco Sapphire Shipping and Tai-fu International Shipping Co., called meetings with six of their competitors, where it was agreed that they would jointly raise ticket prices the following year.

Under the agreement, the companies first raised prices to NT$370 and NT$200 from Jan. 1, 2023.

From April 1, 2023, the companies raised their prices again to NT$450 and NT$225, respectively, while one-way tickets were set at NT$250 for adults and NT$125 for children and seniors, the commission said.

Following an investigation, the FTC issued fines of NT$4.3 million to Leuco Sapphire and NT$2.5 million to Tai-fu International, while the other six companies were fined NT$700,000 each.