The market returned to growth last year and reached EUR750 million compared with EUR800 million in 2008, according to the same source.
A reason for the return to growth in value is the increase in price. Whereas spirits cost EUR4 per liter in 2011, the average price in 2012 rose 12% to EUR4.5.
The industry was also affected by the growth of the black market besides the incresae in prices.
“Black market accounts for about 60% of the industrial spirits market and for 99.9% of the natural spirits (such as the traditional tzuika i.e.) market,” said Radu Morariu, general manager of the GARANT, the association of alcohol and spirits business owners.
Some of the companies in the spirits business saw their revenue go up last year. Market leader by revenue BDG Import, posted growth of 10% in sales to 176.5 million (EUR39.6 million) last year. Local producer Alexandrion’s sales were flat, as the company has previously said.
IWSR data show spirits consumption reached eight liters per capita, six liters of which were flavored spirits (such as tzuika).
Vodka sales rose 8.5% last year, according to Petru Berciu, managing partner with importer BDG Import.
The vodka brands include Absolut, held by Pernod Ricard, Stalinskaya and Discovery of local producer Prodal ’94, Smirnoff, imported by PP Distributors Romania and Kreskova of Alexandrion Group.
Rum saw growth of 17% while tequila ended 2012 with an increase of 7.5%.
Whisky, on the other hand, fell 5%, which shows a consumption trend towards spirits that can be easily mixed into cocktails.
Whisky is not the only category to decline in 2012, as gin sales fell 9% and brandy sales by 0.5%.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)