Romania 2023
Romania 2023
Romania 2023
Report 2023
Romania
Kirill Chernikov
A fluent Russian and Portuguese speaker, Kirill covers Jordan, Lebanon and
Romania, as well as select CIS markets. As a Market Analyst at IWSR, Kirill draws on
his experience as a media analyst, as well as his academic background. Kirill has a
degree in foreign languages taken in Portugal, as well as an MSc in International
Relations from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
Consumption data is given in thousands of nine-litre cases (000s 9LC) for all categories,
including beer and cider. This is one of more than 150 country reports produced by IWSR
every year as part of the Domestic Volume Database.
About IWSR
IWSR is the leading source of data and insight on the global beverage alcohol market. The
IWSR database, essential to the industry, quantifies the global market of wine, spirits, beer,
cider, RTDs (ready-to-drink), and no/low-alcohol by volume and value in 160 countries, and
provides insight into short- and long-term trends, including five-year volume and value
forecasts, as well as consumer behaviour. IWSR tracks overall consumption and trends at
brand, price segment and category level. Our data is used by the major international wine,
spirits and beer companies, as well as financial and beverage-alcohol market suppliers.
IWSR’s unique methodology allows us to get closer to what is actually consumed and better
understand how markets work. IWSR boasts a team of global analysts, each of whom is
equipped with local market expertise and an expansive network of on-the-ground industry
contacts. Our analysts meet and speak with their industry contacts throughout the year to
capture local insight, key market trends, and the 'why' behind the numbers.
To enquire about other reports, or for more information about IWSR products and services, get in
touch: [email protected]
Copyright
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© All content copyright IWSR Drinks Market Analysis Ltd. All rights reserved. This publication,
or any part of it, may not be copied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
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otherwise without the prior written permission of IWSR Drinks Market Analysis Ltd. This
report is the product of extensive research work. It is protected by copyright under the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The facts within this report are believed to be
correct at the time of publication but cannot be guaranteed. All information within this study
has been reasonably verified to the author’s and publisher’s ability, but neither accept
responsibility for loss arising from decisions based on this report.
Romania
Contents
Key Market Statistics ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Price Bands ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Key Economic Indicators ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Population by Age Band ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Country Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Total Beverage Alcohol By Category 2022 ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Market Summary........................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Wine Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Spirits Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Channel Split By Category ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Ecommerce Value and Share .................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Historic and Forecast Growth By Category.............................................................................................................................................. 7
Category Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Wine Volume vs Growth ............................................................................................................................................................................ 8
Spirits Volume vs Growth .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Beer / Cider / RTDs Volume vs Growth .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Channel Split By Beverage Alcohol Category - 2022 ............................................................................................................................... 9
Ecommerce Value 2022 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Wine Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Wines: Consumption Summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Wines: Local vs Imported ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Wines: Share By Owner 2022 .................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Wine By Category — Historical and Forecast Growth Rates ................................................................................................................ 12
Wine: Share of On- vs Off-Premise 2022 ............................................................................................................................................... 13
Wines: Ecommerce 2022 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Wine: Share By Leading Company (Owner) 2022 ................................................................................................................................. 14
Wines: Leading Brands 2022 ................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Still Wines ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Still Wine: Local vs Imported ................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Still Wine: By Price Band .......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Still Wine: By Colour ................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Still Wine: By Colour ................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Still Wine: New vs Old World ................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Still Wine: Selected New World Wine Varietals...................................................................................................................................... 17
Still Wine: Selected Old World Wines By Region ................................................................................................................................... 18
Still Wine: Organic Wine........................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Still Wine: Leading Brands By Category ................................................................................................................................................. 19
Still Wine: Leading Owners and Brands ................................................................................................................................................. 20
Still Wine: Share Of Leading Owners 2022 ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Sparkling Wines ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Sparkling Wine: By Category ................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Other Sparkling: By Origin ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Sparkling Wine: By Price Band ................................................................................................................................................................ 23
Sparkling Wine: Leading Brands By Category ....................................................................................................................................... 24
Light Aperitifs ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Light Aperitifs: By Price Band .................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Light Aperitifs: Leading Owners and Brands ......................................................................................................................................... 25
Light Aperitifs: Leading Owners and Brands (Continued...) ................................................................................................................. 26
Light Aperitifs: Share Of Leading Owners 2022 .................................................................................................................................... 26
Light Aperitifs: Leading Brands By Category ......................................................................................................................................... 26
Light Aperitifs: Leading Brands By Category (Continued...) ................................................................................................................. 27
Spirits Summary .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Spirits: Consumption Summary .............................................................................................................................................................. 28
Spirits: Local vs Imported ........................................................................................................................................................................ 29
Spirits: Price Band Analysis ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Spirits: Price Band Analysis (Continued...) ............................................................................................................................................. 31
Spirits: Share of On- vs Off-Premise 2022 ............................................................................................................................................. 31
Spirits: Ecommerce 2022 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Spirits: Share By Owner 2022.................................................................................................................................................................. 32
Spirits By Category - Historical and Forecast Growth ........................................................................................................................... 33
Spirits: Share By Category ....................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Spirits: Share By Price Band .................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Spirits: Leading Brands 2022................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Whisky........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Despite official figures pointing to a rate of 15%, inflation for basic FMCG was believed
to be above 20%. The war in Ukraine caused issues with energy and disrupted supply
chains, leading to abrupt increases in the cost of petrol and utilities, pushing the
population to cut spending on non-essential goods such as alcohol.
Spirits had excise duty increases in January and August, instead of the normal annual
one, which flattened total alcohol volume growth and slowed down the trend towards
premiumisation. The market is becoming more diverse, with niche imported products
popping up both in horeca and retail, in response to growing demand for new and
exotic products in all categories.
Ecommerce remains in the low single-digits, as a percentage of total volume, with many
new delivery services still expanding. Alcohol delivery services often have partnerships
with distributors and specialist stores as well as the main Romanian online marketplace
Emag. No-alcoholic brands are starting to make inroads, mainly in horeca.
Outlook
Forecast Highlights
In the next five years volumes will experience slow decline but premiumisation will
rescue value sales. Imported spirits are expected to grow their market share as
consumers become more selective and adopt a less-but-better approach.
are also in this age group. The US Census Bureau International Data Base
indicates that the Romanian population will decline by around 13% by 2050.
• Economic Tourist numbers had been growing year on year before the onset of
Covid-19 as the number of low-cost flights into key tourist areas had increased.
Tourism is unlikely to recover to pre-pandemic levels before 2023 at the earliest.
• Ecommerce The online channel is centred in Bucharest and was relatively
undeveloped before the pandemic. Volumes in this channel have increased
owing to Covid-19.
• Trade Considerable quantities of parallel products enter the market. It is thought
that the grey market accounts for up to 15% of the total volume of many popular
international brands, particularly Scotch, US whiskey and some vodkas. Parallels
come mainly from the Netherlands and Germany. Parallel volumes are not
included in this report.
Long-Term Drivers
Still wine is part of the national culture, and most wine consumed is Romanian. The
market for local wines has become somewhat saturated. Producers have focused on
improving quality and meeting domestic demand as consumers want to support local
producers.
Romanian consumers are somewhat conservative in their wine consumption and prefer
bottles with corks, as opening a bottle is still considered a ritual. Younger people mostly
consume white and rosé because of their lighter taste. In red, they tend to choose wines
with fewer tannins. Rosé has slowly grown its market share, stealing mainly from red.
Current-Year Changes
Still wine volumes remained flat in 2022. Local wine producers focused on
premiumisation, to meet consumers’ less-but-better approach. Volumes benefitted
from a good local harvest.
Value sales are growing despite decreasing consumer purchasing power. Smaller
wineries that didn’t have the resources to stay afloat had no option but to close, with
sales being taken by more established brands.
Many of the glass bottles used by Romanian wineries are produced in Ukraine because
of its geographical proximity and low costs. Due to the war in Ukraine, many wineries
moved to other bottle suppliers close to the end of the year. There was also a push
behind no-alcohol wine, though not all attempts were successful.
Outlook
+ Volumes will be flat as the category is reaching its full potential, but there is
plenty of room for growth in value as many consumers will trade up.
Sparkling Wine
Long-Term Drivers
Despite being used mainly for celebrations, sparkling wine is starting to be associated
with wider social gatherings and becoming more of a lifestyle product.
Current-Year Changes
Prosecco had a very good year in 2022. It is perceived as a higher quality but cheaper
alternative to Champagne for festivities and social gatherings.
Like still rosé, pink sparkling continued to grow, but from a low base. It takes share from
white wine in the summer, mostly in horeca.
Outlook
+ Sparkling wine will continue to grow in the forecast period, mainly due its
versatility and relative affordability.
Whisky
Long-Term Drivers
Whisky has had the largest volume growth in spirits in the last five years. It is perceived
as the most aspirational spirit and consumed mostly by the middle-aged.
Current-Year Changes
Whisky kept growing as many niche brands popped up in both horeca and retail. The
category experienced stronger premiumisation than expected in 2022, due to consumer
curiosity about new products and greater willingness to pay more despite the economic
crisis.
Outlook
+ Whisky will continue growing, though at a more moderate rate in the foreseeable
future.
Current-Year Changes
Gin improved its growth rate, aided by the recovering on-trade and tourism growth.
Wembley gin is the local gin leader on the strength of its affordability.
Outlook
+ Growth will be significantly slower from 2023 until the end of the forecast period.
Vodka
Long-Term Drivers
The category’s big advantage is its affordability, but it has been in slow decline because
it is mostly consumed by middle-aged and older men at home. Younger people tend to
trade up but drink less − using it mostly to mix in cocktails or with soft drinks in clubs −
contributing to volume decline.
Current-Year Changes
Locally produced Stalinskaya remains the market leader because of its affordable price.
Super-premium-and-above vodka is growing, as consumers are drawn towards better
quality products.
Outlook
- Long-term decline is expected to continue.
Rum
Long-Term Drivers
Rum is much more popular in Romania than in neighbouring countries. There has been
a boom in the last few years, both in terms of volumes and value, as rum fits the
population’s affinity for sweeter products.
Current-Year Changes
Rum was one of the best percentage growth performers in 2022. It’s noticeable that
rum now occupies a considerably larger space on retail shelves. The number of brands
entering the market greatly increased in 2022.
Outlook
+ Growth will be flatter from 2023 until the end of the forecast period.
Current-Year Changes
The category continued its slow decline in 2022, another year in which laws on home
production were tightened. There were no significant attempts to reinvent the category.
Outlook
- The category will continue its slow volume decline in the forecast period.
Beer
Long-Term Drivers
Domestic brands lead the category, as they are more affordable than imported brands.
Current-Year Changes
Beer had an increase in excise duty, causing volumes to decrease, except for premium-
and-above price bands.
Most local brewers normally buy cereal from neighbouring Ukraine because of low
prices, but the war there meant alternatives had to be found elsewhere. This slowed
down the production process and increased costs, in turn making beer less affordable
for consumers.
Outlook
+ Beer will regain some of the volumes lost in 2022 during the forecast period, but
2021 volumes will not be reached.
Methodology
Key Sources of Information in this Report
• Face-to-face and/or remote meetings with local importers, producers and other
key industry players.
• Shipment data from exporting countries, trade associations and producers.
• Local trade publications.
• Company reports where available.
• Store checks conducted online and in Bucharest in February 2023.
Caveats
• The country struggles with parallel imports, mostly via the Netherlands, and this
distorts exact category volumes.
• It is unclear to what extent the rising cost of raw materials, such as glass, will
affect wine growth and how the emigration of the young and educated to other
parts of Europe will affect future volumes of beer and vodka.
Price Bands
Price bands based on spirit categories
Price Band Amount in Local Currency
- Prestige-Plus Over 1,100.00
- Prestige 500.00 to 1,099.99
- Ultra-Premium 190.00 to 499.99
- Super-Premium 150.00 to 189.99
- Premium 95.00 to 149.99
- Standard 48.00 to 94.99
- Value 16.50 to 47.99
- Low-Price 16.49 and under
Source: IWSR
Source: IMF
Source: IWSR
Market Summary
000s 9-litre Cases
Category 2021 2022 CAGR 2021 CAGR 2017 CAGR 2022
to 2022 to 2022 to 2027
Total Beverage Alcohol 246,278.40 236,031.61 -4.2% -0.6% 0.3%
Source: IWSR
Wine Summary
000s 9-litre Cases
Category 2021 2022 CAGR 2021 CAGR 2017 CAGR 2022
to 2022 to 2022 to 2027
Wine 48,072.81 48,106.02 0.1% -0.9% -0.3%
Source: IWSR
Spirits Summary
000s 9-litre Cases
Category 2021 2022 CAGR 2021 CAGR 2017 CAGR 2022
to 2022 to 2022 to 2027
Spirits 11,711.77 11,628.59 -0.7% -0.6% -1.6%
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Note: Argentinian, Australian, Chilean, New Zealand, S. Africa & US shown. Chinese, Israeli and Uruguayan included in their own
markets
Source: IWSR
Note: French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish wines shown
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