Mineral water market up 18% in 2007

Bottlers of mineral water licensed by the National Company of Mineral Water (SNAM), which account for around 90% of the market, saw an 18% increase in terms of volume against 2006, reveals data from SNAM. The mineral water market amounted to over 1.1 billion litres last year, compared with 930 million litres in 2006, according to the same source. If we also consider the licences granted by the ANRM (The National Mineral Resources Agency) to Dorna Apemin bottler (for Izvorul Alb mineral water) and to Apemin Tusnad (for Izvorul Zanelor and Izvorul Ascuns brands), the market could amount to over 1.25 billion litres, while in terms of value, it could be worth 300-350 million euros. Carbonated mineral water accounts for 54% of the market, down one percent against 2006, according to SNAM data. The largest player on the mineral water market is the Romaqua group, a Romanian-held group, the bottler of the Borsec mineral water. According to market estimates, Romaqua is followed by Coca-Cola HBC, which took over Romanian Dorna Apemin company at the end of 2002.