The total market share of the top five companies, including European Drinks, Heineken, Ursus Breweries, InBev and URBB, amounted to 92.2 percent in the September 2007 - August 2008 period, compared to 92.4 percent year-on-year.
The sale of glass-bottled beer dropped year-on-year in terms of volume in the same 12-month period this year, from 41.8 percent to 36.9 percent, according to the MEMRB study. PET bottled beer registered significant growth in the period analyzed, to a market share in volume of 49.3 percent, compared to 47.1 percent year-on-year, now being preferred by Romanians, adds the study. This is attributed mostly to Romanians consuming beer at home.
Ursus Breweries officials, the second-largest producer, believe that PET-bottled beer will rise this year by several percentage points, while glass bottled beer is expected to drop to 38 percent in 2008 from 44 percent in 2007. These same officials forecast that beer consumption could climb to 111 liters per capita in 2013 from a present 90-95 liters.
The Romanian beer market exceeded €1 billion last year, according to data received from beer producers.
