Japanese shipowner K Line has pleaded guilty to criminal cartel conduct in Australia.
The car carrier company now faces sentencing in a federal court, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) said.
The plea follows an investigation by the ACCC and charges laid by the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions.
They concern the international shipping of cars, trucks and buses to Australia.
This is the second guilty plea in Australia in relation to this particular cartel.
In July 2016, Japan's NYK pleaded guilty and was fined AUD 25m ($19.22m) last year.
The next scheduled hearing for K Line is on 15 and 16 November.
Probe continues
The ACCC said its investigation into other alleged cartel participants is continuing.
"As this is a criminal matter currently before the federal court, the ACCC will not provide any further comment at this time," it added.
K Line has also been facing a fine from South Africa’s competition watchdog for rigging bids with rivals for shipping cars.
The local competition commission recommended a penalty equal to 10% of its local turnover.
South African authorities found the Japanese owner was working with MOL, NYK and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) on fixing prices for the shipment of Toyota vehicles.
In February, European Union (EU) competition regulators announced a EUR 395m ($487m) fine against four car carrier companies for violating the bloc’s competition rules.
The fine applied to CSAV, K Line and NYK, as well as Scandinavian WWL-EUKOR.
Chile's National Economic Prosecutor’s office (FNE) has filed charges in the country’s Free Trade Defence Tribunal (TDLC) against CSAV, Compania Chilena de Navegacion Interoceanica (CCNI), Eukor Car Carriers, K Line, MOL and NYK.
Eukor denied being a part of any collusion in this case.
NYK and K Line were also fined in the US for violating shipping laws.
