“Last year, Romanians drank beer worth €1 billion,” said Mihai Ghyka, President of the Association. Ghyka believes that the domestic market was subject to a slight year-on-year slowing of the growth rate in 2007, to 9.6 percent from 16.4 percent in 2006. Last year, Romania imported 0.18 million hl of beer, compared to 0.032 mln hl in 2006, while exports rose to 0.026 mln hl, compared to 0.076 mln hl in 2006.

Per capita beer consumption in Romania in 2007 amounted to 89 liters, and the average consumption is expected to increase to 95 liters per capita, according to Ghyka. Romania is sixth in Europe in terms of beer consumption, following the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom.