Recession hangover as Romanian beer market drops by 13 percent

Beer sales fell to 17.6 million hectoliters in 2009, a decrease of 13 percent on 2008, when Romanians guzzled 20.2 million hectoliters, according to Romania’s Brewers Association (Asociatia Berarii Romaniei, or ABR). Bergenbier, Heineken Romania, Romaqua Group, United Romanian Breweries and Ursus Breweries – the ABR members – invested about EUR 105 million in 2009, with total investments of over EUR 1 billion since their entrance on the market.

“Our objective is to continue to develop this sector, as we are convinced that the beer industry has a long-term positive outlook in Romania,” said Jan Derck van Karnebeek, president of the ABR.

According to statistics, Romanians prefer beer brands produced on the local market, which explains the figure of less than 1 percent imports among total beer sales. Last year beer imports decreased from 0.5 million hectoliters in 2008 to 0.17 million hectoliters, while exports increased from 0.06 million hectoliters to 0.17 million hectoliters. As for the sales on package categories, there were no significant changes in 2009: 46.7 percent – PET, 14.8 percent – can, 35.3 percent – bottle and 3.2 percent – draft. ABR members have over 6,300 employees nationwide at the moment and have contributed almost EUR 1.3 billion to the state budget in the last six years.

Anda Dragan

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