Mihail Ianas, the Executive Manager of APEMIN, the industry’s trade union, indicated that production for 2008 was initially estimated at 1.15 billion liters, but that this is likely to reach 1.3 bln liters.
Ianas said that the local market leader is Romaqua Group, with its Borsec brand, and a 35 percent market share, followed by Dorna Apemin, with a 14 percent share, and European Drinks, with a 13 percent market share. “The top six players have an 85 percent share. There are new companies on the market every year, but their market share does not exceed 1 percent,” Ianas added.
Biborteni mineral water sales increased by over 40 percent in the first six months compared to H1 2007. Carpatina acquired the Herculane Water bottling company two months ago, to complete its mineral water product portfolio. “The production capacities in Herculane and the volumes extracted from the source will help us to increase annual production to 150 million liters,” said Mihai Bratu, President of Lipomin, the company that bought Carpatina in 2006.
The Romanian soft drink market, including mineral water products, reached €900 million last year, and 3 billion liters in volume, according to company data. The market is estimated to be worth some €1 bln this year.
