Romania’s Beer Market Up 3.8% By Volume In 1H/2015

Romania’s beer market rose 3.8%, by volume, to 7.6 million hectolitres, in the first half of 2015, after two consecutive years of consumption decline, the country’s brewers association said Tuesday.

"Although feeble, we are hoping this market growth will also be reconfirmed by the results at the end of the year," association head Lucian Ghinea said in a statement.

According to the association, sales were impacted by the positive evolution of economic indicators.

The association said the Romanian beer sector accounts for over 60% of the total excise collections to the state budget on the alcoholic beverages market and has attracted investments of over EUR1.3 billion to date, securing69,700 jobs, directly and indirectly.

The association brings together brewers Bergenbier, Heineken, United Romanian Breweries Bereprod, Ursus and Martens, which supply nearly 80% of the beer drunk in Romania.

Romania’s beer market fell by 8.6% in 2014, to 14.9 million hectolitres, and by over 10% in 2013.

Saigon beer bottles
Beeld: ©Reuters
Bottles of beer move along a production line at a factory of Saigon Beer Corporation (Sabeco) in Hanoi