China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recently published the Annual Report on Anti-Monopoly Law Enforcement in China (2025). According to the report, a total of 20 monopoly cases were opened and 22 were concluded in 2025, with total fines and confiscations amounting to RMB 653 million. Monopoly agreement cases were a key enforcement focus, with 11 cases investigated and penalized, leading to fines of approximately RMB 606 million. These cases were predominantly concentrated in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, driving schools, motor vehicle inspection, building materials, and telecommunications. Enforcement in the pharmaceutical sector continued to intensify, with related cases resulting in confiscations totaling RMB 585 million, and for the first time, multi-level liability was imposed on the enterprises, organizers, and responsible individuals involved.

In the area of merger control, the efficiency of antitrust review continued to improve. In 2025, a total of 706 merger cases were concluded, marking an increase of 9.8% year-on-year, of which 687 were cleared unconditionally. The average case-conclusion time was 25.39 days, and approximately 86% of cases were concluded during the preliminary review phase. In parallel, four cases of illegal concentration of undertakings were investigated and penalized, with fines totaling RMB 6.95 million.

In 2025, market regulation authorities at all levels reviewed nearly 60,000 policy measures and put forward 12,300 opinions for revision or adjustment. A total of 96 investigations into administrative monopoly practices were launched and 75 were concluded, representing year-on-year increases of 34% and 32%, respectively.

From a corporate compliance perspective, the report sends a clear signal: key industries such as pharmaceuticals, internet platforms, public utilities, and new energy will remain at the forefront of antitrust oversight. Enterprises should further strengthen their antitrust risk assessments, enhance their competition compliance management systems, and take steps to mitigate regulatory risks when engaging in investment, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, and commercial cooperation.