The Fair Trade Commission searched five floor material makers Tuesday on suspicion of being involved in a price-fixing cartel.
Sources said the five companies, including interior and construction-use carpet maker Toli Corp., raised prices on polyvinyl floor materials and tile carpets several times after agreeing on the margins of increase and the timing.
The domestic market for the two products is estimated at 130 billion yen. The five companies' combined share amounts to about 50 percent of the market for polyvinyl floor materials and 70 percent for tile carpets.