Mineral water market down 6%

The mineral waters market went down 6% in the first three months of this year against the same period of 2008, according to data from the Romanian Mineral Waters Company (SNAM). The decline in the volume of water bottled from SNAM springs, which account for around 90% of the mineral waters market, points to a decline in consumption, say producers. “The effects of the crisis are evidently also felt on the mineral waters market. No sector is spared. Consumers have less money to spend and cut their budget dedicated to water,” said Viorel Micula, president of European Drinks, bottler of Izvorul Minunilor mineral water. The first three months of this year saw almost 250 million litres of mineral water bottled from SNAM sources. The market was put at 300 million euros last year and at around one billion litres, a stagnation against 2007, with the main reason being the unfavourable weather as far as producers are concerned. In the absence of high temperatures in the summer, the consumption increase slowed down, and producers had to adjust their sales forecasts. This year, only the heat could give a boost to mineral water consumption, given that Romanians are cutting their budgets for acquisition of fast moving consumer goods.