Fiscal incentives encourage small brewers

Fiscal facilities due to come into force next year and optimism about an increase in beer consumption in Romania has led new players from Moldova and Bucharest to enter the niche brewer market (brewers with annual growth capacities up to 200,000 hectolitres). “Annual consumption in Romania is 62-63 litres/capita and estimates for the next few years indicate consumption increasing to 80 litres, which means about 3-4 million hectolitres a year. The small brewers which have emerged recently – something which points to a trend on the market – and who will keep on emerging for certain, these are regional players, an overwhelming majority of which will tap into the popular beer segment,” says Vifor Versescu, general manager of the Employer Association of Beer Making Companies in Romania (PSPBR). The association was created earlier this year by 21 domestic producers, who account for approximately 25% of national beer production. PSPBR data show that the small brewers, who produce 200,000 hectolitres a year, account for some 6.5% of the beer market. ZF