Walmart’s Mexico unit under investigation for antitrust behavior

Mexican commission begins investigation into possible monopolistic practices by Walmart de Mexico

Walmart’s Mexico unit is being investigated by Mexican authorities for possible monopolistic practices related to wholesale supply and distribution, and retail operations. Pictured is the recent opening of a new distribution center in Merida, Mexico. (Photo: Walmex)

Walmart’s Mexico division, Walmart de Mexico, is under investigation by Mexican authorities for alleged “monopolistic practices” related to wholesale supply and distribution, and retail operations. 

Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Commission said Thursday it had opened an investigation against Walmex for “possible conduct of monopolistic practices relative to the supply and distribution market to wholesale of consumer goods, retail marketing of these and related services.”

The investigation actually began on July 24, but the commission has up to 120 days to publicly announce the inquiry. The commission has not announced a timeline for when it could issue a judgement in the investigation.

Walmart de Mexico, commonly known as Walmex, is Mexico’s largest retailer. The company has about 2,600 stores under seven brand names across Mexico. Walmex employs more than 200,200 people in Mexico. 

In a notice to shareholders Walmex officials said “WALMEX is confident that its actions have always adhered to applicable legislation, and that its participation in the Mexican market has always resulted in lower prices for the consumer, particularly benefiting lower-income Mexican families, and in remote areas of the country that have not been served by others, which we will demonstrate before the corresponding authorities and in the appropriate forums in which we will exercise our rights.”

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Noi Mahoney

Noi Mahoney is a Texas-based journalist who covers cross-border trade, logistics and supply chains for FreightWaves. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English in 1998. Mahoney has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working for newspapers in Maryland and Texas. Contact nmahoney@freightwaves.com