MANNHEIM (dpa-AFX) - Major sugar producers Südzucker, Nordzucker and Pfeifer & Langen are to pay millions in damages for collecting sugar prices that were too high following cartel agreements. The Mannheim Regional Court ruled on Friday that Nestlé Deutschland AG is entitled to around 8.4 million euros and Molkerei Alois Müller GmbH & Co KG to around 6.3 million euros, each plus interest. The judgments are not yet final, as the parties can appeal, a court spokesman said.

The lawsuits are two pilot proceedings. According to the court, around 40 antitrust lawsuits filed by various food and beverage manufacturers are pending at the Mannheim Regional Court. They are demanding a total of several hundred million euros./vni/DP/stk