The Romanian alcohol market registered an increase in revenue of 8.6 percent in 2023. The market looks optimistic, expecting a 4.4 percent increase in 2024. The drop in alcohol quantity in Romania's market can also be observed in terms of sales volume and consumption. In 2022, the alcohol volume dropped by approximately 200 million liters. Overall, the forecast is rather discouraging, expecting alcohol sales volume of only 2.02 billion liters by 2025.
According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, in 2022, Romania figured among the countries with the highest wine consumption in the world. The country’s annual wine consumption amounted to 3.7 million hectoliters that year. Wine is mainly perceived as a noble drink, often preferred for dinner occasions and good companies. In 2021, Romanians favored red wine but also white and rose. Almost two out of five Romanians qualify as heavy users, meaning they drink wine at least once a week. On average, each knows at least seven different wine brands.
The wine market revenue peaked in 2021 at 2.1 billion Romanian lei. The market is very competitive, with each of the top five brands owning 10 to 12 percent of the market share. However, there is an apparent leader regarding Premium wine, owning 25 percent of the market share - Purcari, a winery from the Republic of Moldova that has more than tripled its market share since 2014. They also own brands such as Bostavan, Crama Ceptura, as well as Bardar.
Alcohol consumption in Romania
Alcohol consumption has been growing steadily since 2015., Romanian consumers drink more alcoholic beverages every year. As a result, the annual alcohol consumption per capita in Romania increased to 10.49 liters of pure alcohol in 2023. Consumers especially favor beer and wine products. Therefore, it is no surprise that annual beer consumption per capita has increased by over 17 percent since 2014, totaling 87 liters in 2021.According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, in 2022, Romania figured among the countries with the highest wine consumption in the world. The country’s annual wine consumption amounted to 3.7 million hectoliters that year. Wine is mainly perceived as a noble drink, often preferred for dinner occasions and good companies. In 2021, Romanians favored red wine but also white and rose. Almost two out of five Romanians qualify as heavy users, meaning they drink wine at least once a week. On average, each knows at least seven different wine brands.
Leading brands
There were 93 active breweries in Romania in 2021. The leader in the beer production industry in 2022 was Ursus Breweries, which recorded a revenue of 2.28 billion Romanian lei. Other well-known brands belonging to them are Timișoreana, Ciucaș, and Peroni.The wine market revenue peaked in 2021 at 2.1 billion Romanian lei. The market is very competitive, with each of the top five brands owning 10 to 12 percent of the market share. However, there is an apparent leader regarding Premium wine, owning 25 percent of the market share - Purcari, a winery from the Republic of Moldova that has more than tripled its market share since 2014. They also own brands such as Bostavan, Crama Ceptura, as well as Bardar.
