Multinationals sell over 1.5bn litres of beer in 2007

The local beer market topped the one billion-euro mark last year, and reached a volume of 19.4 million hectolitres, up by just 9.6% against the same time in 2006, when 17.7 million hectolitres were sold, according to studies conducted by the Romanian Brewers Association and by the National Statistics Institute. “The growth seen on the beer market in 2007 is relatively smaller compared to the preceding year, amid a reduction in sales in the last quarter of 2007. During the last three months of 2007, temperatures were 2-3 degrees lower than during the same period in 2006. The trend seen at the beginning of 2007 was virtually the reverse. This year, the beer market will grow by around 5%,” said Mihai Ghyka, the new chairman of the Romanian Brewers Association, and chief executive of the third largest player on the market, InBev Romania. Out of the total sales made last year on the domestic beer market, the members of the Romanian Brewers Association, Heineken Romania, Ursus Breweries, InBev Romania and United Romanian Breweries Bereprod, sold 15.15 million hectolitres, up 20.2% against 2006, slightly below the 20.6% growth rate achieved in 2006.