BRUSSELS, July 20 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators on

Monday charged a group of construction chemicals companies and

trade associations with taking part in a cartel between 2021 and

2022, putting them at risk of hefty fines.

The European Commission issued the charges via a 'statement

of objections' following dawn raids against unnamed companies in

several EU countries in 2023.

The Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer,

said the companies and associations colluded between 2021 and

2022 to increase prices in the supply of chemicals for cement,

concrete and mortar, impacting construction costs.

Charges were sent to Cemex, Chryso, Mapei, Master Builders

Solutions, MC Bauchemie, Sika, TAM, and the trade association

SYNAD for alleged wrongdoing in France.

The alleged anti-competitive practices in Germany concerned

Cemex, Ha-be, Mapei, Master Builders Solutions, MC Bauchemie,

Liesen, Remei, Sika and the trade association Deutsche

Bauchemie.

The cartel charges regarding the Spanish market concerned

Chryso, Mapei, Master Builders Solutions, MC Bauchemie, Sika and

the trade association ANFAH.

The companies and trade associations risk fines of up to 10%

of their global annual turnover if found guilty of breach EU

cartel rules.