Romania: Beer giants from Romania sold 8,3 millions hectolitres of beer in the first nine months

The Association �Brewers of Romania�, which hold 70% of the Romanian beer market announced an increase in sales of 5,6% for the first nine months of 2005 up to 8,3 million hectolitres. The association groups the companies: Brau Union Romania S.A., Ursus Breweries S.A., Interbrew Romania S.A. and United Romanian Breweries Bereprod SRL (URBB).

In the first half of this year beer sales of �Brewers of Romania� increased by 3.5% up to 4.75 million hl of beer compared to 4.585 million hl in the first half of 2004.

The four breweries have in total about 4,400 employees and invested in Romania about EUR 420 million. The taxes paid to Romanian budget were of about EUR 108 million in 2004.

Last year Romania consumed a record quantity of beer of 14.5 million hl. The average per capita consumption is of 54 litres per year, compared to 80 litres in Hungary and 160 litres in Czech Republic.