Israel's Antitrust Commissioner David Gilo is considering a proposal to fine the managers of state-owned Ashdod Port for allegedly abusing the port’s monopoly power over car imports.

Gilo is threatening to fine Ashdod Port Company LTD NIS 12 million and former Ashdod Port CEO Shuki Sagis and current VP customers Eli Bar-Yosef NIS 200,000 each.

Last week, Gilo announced that he will summon Ashdod Port for a hearing ahead of declaring it monopoly in the unloading of motor vehicles from the US and Europe. He is also considering declaring that abused the port's position in this market.

The Antitrust Authority claims to have information, which shows that Ashdod Port handled 99% of vehicle imports from the US and Europe in 2009-11 and 95% in 2012, making it an apparently monopoly in this market.

Most vehicles imported from the Far East are unloaded at the Eilat Port, but vehicles imported from the West are unloaded at Israel's Mediterranean ports. "The Antitrust Authority found that the port's income from the unloading and storage of vehicles was more than NIS 100 million in 2012, and about the same in 2013."