The High Court of Singapore has overturned a previous ruling by the Competition Appeal Board, reinstating a decision by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) that two warehouse operators violated competition law by exchanging information about planned price increases.

In a judgment issued on June 30, 2026, the court found that CNL Logistic Solutions and Gilmon Transportation & Warehousing infringed Section 34 of the Competition Act by sharing their intention to impose a surcharge. This case originated from a CCS investigation into four warehouse operators at Keppel Distripark.

The CCS had determined in November 2022 that representatives from these companies communicated in June 2017 about plans to introduce a free-trade zone (FTZ) surcharge at the same rate as the largest warehouse operator. CCS stated that the companies used this information during negotiations with customers, leading all four operators to eventually impose the same surcharge. Financial penalties totaling S$2.8 million (US$2.1 million) were imposed on the four companies.

CNL and Gilmon appealed the decision in January 2023, and the Competition Appeal Board ruled in their favor in July 2025, citing insufficient consideration of the economic context, including the companies' relatively small market shares at Keppel Distripark.

Following the High Court's latest judgment, Alvin Koh, CEO of CCS, emphasized that the ruling serves as a reminder that businesses must set prices independently and avoid coordinating with competitors or exchanging confidential information on future prices or pricing intentions. He noted that such exchanges, especially regarding future price changes, are more likely to breach the Competition Act.

Sources