During this period, the number of employees working in the industry fell by over 4,000 people, to 10,000 last year.
A little over 500 companies are still operating in the industry, most of which have less than 10 employees.
Trade Registry data include all companies that submitted financial statements for last year, but for instance Dorna Lactate, which in 2011 had over 600 employees, does not feature in the ranking sent by the Trade Registry at ZF’s request.
Amid plant closures and amid the decline in Romanians’ purchasing power, sales have fallen significantly and the value of the market was down to EUR800 million last year, EUR1.2 billion less than in the first crisis year.
“The decision to close down a plant is not easy to make. We have to take into account consumption habits, costs and market difficulties,” says Cornel Caramizaru, sales manager of FrieslandCampina, one of the largest dairy producers. The company closed down four plants since the end of 2007, with only three plants still operating, in Baciu, Targu Mures and Carei.
In the past five years the most resounding exit from the dairy market was that of Israeli producer Tnuva, which in 2012 closed down the Popesti-Leordeni plant and sold the over 1,000 cows of its farm in Adunatii-Copaceni.
The Israeli company had invested around EUR55 million in Romanian operations since the end of 2005, but when it made its exit it asked for a little over EUR16 million. Tnuva’s plant employed around 160 people in 2011 and the company’s turnover was EUR17.4 million that year.
At present the largest companies in the milk industry are Danone, Friesland, Hochland, Albalact and Dorna Lactate, all of which have production facilities in Romania.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)