Romanian Beer Market Seen Hitting A New Record High
Romania’s beer market is seen touching a new record high, of RON4.6 billion (around EUR1 billion), in 2021, per an analysis by KeysFin.
The turnover reported by brewing companies in Romania increased by 5.2% in 2019 versus 2018 and by 51% versus 2010, touching a record high of RON4.5 billion. For 2020, KeysFin experts expect a decrease of nearly 1.6%, based on statistics data, but, in 2021, we see an upward trend.
In 2019, the top players on the local beer market reported a turnover of nearly RON4.5 billion, accounting for 99.6% of the overall turnover. Of a total 4455 employees in this sector, 3963 (89%) work for one of the top ten players in the industry.
In 2019, 100 brewers were operating in Romania, 17.6% more than in 2018 and 317% more than in 2010. Nevertheless, 86% of the local beer market is held by the same three brewing companies, all held primarily by foreigners.
Finance ministry data show that the leader in this sector remains Ursus Breweries, which holds, among others, beer brands Timisoreana, Ursus, Grolsch, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Ciucas, Stejar and Azuga. Part of Japanese group Asashi Breweries, the company had a turnover of nearly RON2 billion in 2019, reaching a 44% market share.
Heineken Romania, which sells on the local market beer brands Heineken, Silva, Ciuc, Golden Brau, Bucegi, Neumarkt, Harghita, Haţegana, Gambrinus, Affligem, Edelweiss, Birra Moretti, Amstel and Desperados, ranks second. In 2019, the company had a turnover of RON1.2 billion, respectively, a 27% market share, managing to switch from the biggest net loss on brewers’ market, of RON33.8 million in 2018, to the second largest profit on the market, of RON117.5 million in 2019, according to KeysFin analysts.
Bergenbier places third, with a turnover of RON651 million in 2019, respectively, a 15% market share. Bergenbier is held by Dutch Molson Coors Netherlands BV and sells on the local market beer brands Bergenbier, Staropramen, Stella Artois, Beck's, Noroc, Corona and Lowenbrau.
According to the Romanian Brewers Association, Romania ranks seventh among beer producing countries in Europe, while over 97% of the beer consumed locally is produced in Romania, and 50% of ingredients also comes from local production.
Romania’s beer market remained stable in 2020, with a slight growth of 0.5% in volume compared with 2019, to 16.75 million hectoliters, according to the Romanian Brewers Association. The hospitality industry accounted for just 8% of beer sales in the country in 2020, from 15% in 2019, as the coronavirus pandemic led to the closing of hotels, bars and restaurants and the postponement of the European Football Championships and other sporting events.
www.zfenglish.com 30.06.2021
