Romania: Beer multinationals see 37% sales increase in Q1

Beer sales of the multinational companies present on the local market (Heineken, Interbrew, United Romanian Breweries Bereprod and Ursus Breweries) increased by 37% in terms of volume in the first quarter, against the same period in 2006, to a total of 2.54 million hectolitres, Ziarul Financiar published April 18.

"Given the constant, year-on-year increase in sales in winter, we can say that beer is less and less considered to be a product consumed in a particular season," stated Constantin Bratu, general manager of the Romanian Brewers' Association. The beer market expanded its volume by over 16% last year, to 17.7 million hectolitres, according to the Romanian Breweries' Association, which groups together the four multinational companies from the beer industry.

The growth rate seen in 2006 could bring last year's market total to over 1.2 billion euros (shelf price).