Christmas tree growers face court after price-fixing claims

Christmas tree growers in Denmark have been officially charged with fixing prices. Prices are up by 20% this year.

The prosecutor for serious economic crimes in the country, which is Europe’s leading exporter of Christmas trees, charged the Danish Christmas Tree Growers’ Association this week after a year-long investigation.

The move came after warnings from Denmark’s competition authority in 2001 and in 2005, urging the association to stop giving its members wholesale price guidelines in an attempt not to undercut one another.

“We have been charged and I will not comment on the case until a trial begins,” said Kaj Oestergaard, the association’s manager.

Earlier, the association had blamed a shortage of trees for this year’s substantial price rise.

Danish farmers fell about nine million fir trees every year, of which about 85% are sold abroad, mostly to Germany, Britain and France.

The wholesale price for a Nordmann Fir, the most popular Christmas tree, ranges from €5.50 to €41.50, depending on size and shape.