Heineken sells about 6 percent more beer in Romania in H1

The Romanian subsidiary of Dutch beer producer Heineken saw sales volumes grow by “slightly” less than 7 percent in the first half of 2012 y-o-y, the brewer has announced.

“Volume in Romania grew in the mid-single digits, slightly behind 7 percent beer market growth. Volume gains were led by solid growth of the Bucegi and Ciuc brands. Despite this volume growth, a highly competitive environment constrained overall pricing,” reads the company’s report.

Heineken runs four factories locally in Miercurea Ciuc, Constanta, Craiova and Mures. Among the brands the brewer sells in Romania there are Bucegi, Heineken, Golden Brau, Silva and Ciuc Premium.

Heineken saw its net revenue grow to RON 1.04 billion (approximately EUR 245 million) last year in Romania, up 11.5 percent against 2010. The volume of beer sold increased by 7.5 percent, y-o-y. 2011 was a good year for the brewer also when looking at profitability which grew double digit, said at the beginning of this year Andrew Quayle, CFO of Heineken Romania.

In Central and Eastern Europe the group’s beer volume grew in the first semester of this year by 5.7 organically, “led by solid gains in Russia, Poland ,Romania, Austria, Bulgaria and Belarus. This was only partly offset by lower volume in Greece and Germany”, announced the brewer. Revenues totaled EUR 1.58 billion (up 0.7 percent y-o-y).

At global level, Heineken’s revenue rose 4.5 percent organically (EUR 8.7 billion), driven by higher total consolidated volumes of 1.6 percent and revenue per hectolitre growth of 2.9 percent. Group beer volume rose 3.3 percent with increases in four out of five regions. Net profit increased 1.6 percent (EUR 705 million) and declined 4 percent on an organic basis.

Simona Bazavan