Even with a flat volume in 2021, the beer sector continues to have a significant positive impact on the Romanian economy. The beer industry provides, directly and indirectly, a number of 61,000 jobs for Romanians, covers exclusively from local production approximately 97% of domestic beer consumption, and 50% of the ingredients from the Romanian agriculture. The beer sector contributes to Romania’s economic growth, through its long-term commitment to invest locally and to build a responsible industry.
“We come after a complicated 2021 year, in which beer sales in bars and restaurants slightly increased compared to 2020, but lockdowns and restrictions on operating hours and the number of clients in Horeca sector, along with strict quarantine rules, not permitted a return to pre-pandemic levels. 2022 promises to be even more challenging, especially because of the local and global macroeconomic situation, the record inflation we are facing, but also the war in Ukraine. Despite all these constraints, this year we also pay special attention to the activities of sustainability and responsible consumption and we hope that the Romanian beer market will continue to mature”, said Mihai Voicu, President of the Romanian Brewers Association.
lager remained Romanians’ preferred beer in 2021 too, with a share of 93.6%, slightly lower than in 2020. The beer mixes and flavored beers won 3.8% of the market while non-alcoholic beer had a share of 1.7%. The last two categories recorded the biggest jump last year compared to 2020, respectively 21% for mixes and 20% for non-alcoholic beer. The specialties category, which includes dark, unpasteurized, light, ale, red, etc., held a share of 0.9%, the most affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The category marked a sharp decrease in 2021 (-43% compared to 2020), continuing the downward trend recorded in 2020 (-28%).
In terms of consumers’ preferences according to packaging types, the market structure according to packaging during the second year of Covid-19 crisis continued pre-pandemic trends. The unquestionable star of 2021 was the beer bottle, with an increase of 4 pp compared to the previous year, after a first pandemic year of decline. Both canned beer and draft beer see increases. For canned beer, the trend of recent years is a constant advance, while for beer KEGs, thanks to a longer period of operation of the hospitality sector, 2021 brought a slight recovery, without reaching the share held before the health crisis. PET is the only type of packaging that dropped last year by more than 5 pp. The share held by each type of packaging – bottle: 31.6%, can: 24.3%, keg: 2,6%, PET: 41.5%.
The investments carried out by the members of the Romanian Brewers Association amounted to EUR100.5 million in 2021, higher by almost EUR28 million compared to 2020. The cumulated investments of the members amounted EUR1.8 billion over the last 18 years.
At the same time, the annual contributions to the state budget of the members of the association also saw an upward trend, reaching EUR272 million in 2021 alone. The level of the accumulated contribution from the members of the association in the last 18 years exceeded EUR4.4 billion.
The local beer market keeps its profoundly national character, with the share of the local production staying at around 97% of the internal consumption. Throughout 2021, imports increased by 0.5 million hectoliters, reaching a total of 0.69 million hectoliters.
Exports slightly decreased by 0.04 million hectoliters compared to 2020, reaching a total 0.49 million hectoliters.
The number of brewers increased to 93 in 2021, compared to 86 in the 2020.