Antitrust Authority Urges Barring Gadot and Dor from Haifa Terminal
Israel's Competition Authority has recommended barring Gadot and Dor Chemicals from operating Haifa's new public chemical terminal to prevent market concentration and protect trade competition.
The Israel Competition Authority, led by Michal Cohen, has recommended barring Gadot Group and Dor Chemicals from establishing and operating the new public chemical terminal at the Port of Haifa. The recommendation was submitted to Israel Ports Company (IPC) ahead of the upcoming tender for the northern terminal, aiming to prevent market concentration.
According to the antitrust authority, granting the concession to companies already operating in chemical offloading and storage—or active in chemical trading, in Gadot’s case—would harm competition. The new terminal will replace the southern terminal, which is set to close due to regulatory changes, serving as Israel's only facility providing universal public services for bulk chemical imports.
The Authority warns of risks in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. An incumbent with existing coastal tanks could reduce competition in offloading and storage, while Gadot’s dominant trading position could enable it to disadvantage rival traders and independent importers.
To foster competition, the Authority advises selecting an operator without existing northern terminal infrastructure or significant trading activities. It also suggests amending current operational licenses to allow existing companies to service third parties, thereby expanding unloading options for importers.
