“The fact that the beer market dropped 10 percent in H1 is due to the general economic crisis, which determined a decline in Romanian purchasing power and changed their consumer habits. As such, although Romanians continue to appreciate beer, they are consuming it less frequently and in smaller quantities than in previous years,” said ABR representatives, adding that the weather contributed equally to the drop in sales in the first quarter of this year. However, the Association’s volume, which includes the sales of its five member producers, namely Heineken Romania, InBev Romania, Romaqua Group, United Romanian Breweries and URSUS Breweries, registered a slight 5.06 percent growth, reaching 8.3 million hectoliters, up from 7.9 million hl year-on-year. ABR representatives are not very optimistic about the second quarter.
Per capita beer consumption was 93 liters in 2008, 4 liters more than the year before, making Romania one of the top ten countries in Europe.
