Signs of frothing: beer market bottoms out in 2011

After decreasing for two consecutive years, the Romanian beer market stabilized in 2011 at 17 million hl, the same level as a year before, according to the Brewers of Romania Association. Total sales amounted to EUR 1.7 billion, a similar value to the one reported in 2010.

Beer sales are expected to register a similar level in 2012 also, said Constantin Bratu, general director of the Brewers of Romania Association, stressing that it all depends of the consumers’ purchasing power. “The record level reported in 2008 (e.n. 20.2 million hl) is not something that will see again anytime soon, but we can hope that 2012 will be in line with last year’s figures,” he added.

The consumer’s preferences as regards beer packaging registered small fluctuations last year: PET – 51.3 percent (up 2 percent y-o-y), bottle – 30.2 percent (down 1.5 percent y-o-y), can 14.8 percent (down 1.2 percent y-o-y) and drought 3.7 percent (up 0.7 percent y-o-y). Imports inched up to 0.27 million hl last year.

The members of the Brewers of Romania Association are Bergenbier, Heineken Romania, Romaqua Group, United Romanian Breweries, Ursus Breweries and starting last year Clinica de Bere, a micro-brewery from Timisoara, has joined the association. Brewers of Romania also includes Soufflet Malt Romania and the Association of Hops Producers from Romania.

The members’ contribution to the state budget through various taxes amounted to EUR 272 million in 2011, up by EUR 2 million compared with 2010, according to data from the association.

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Simona Bazavan