Alcohol market in Romania - statistics & facts
Over the past few years, Romania has emerged as a significant player in the European alcohol market, particularly renowned for its wine and beer offerings. The alcohol market revenue has shown a consistent upward trajectory, reaching a peak of 5.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, a promising sign for its future.
According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, Romania was listed as one of the countries with the highest wine consumption worldwide in 2023. The country’s annual wine consumption totaled three million hectoliters that year. The local population favored red wine as well as white and rosé.
The wine market revenue is expected to reach 757 million U.S. dollars by 2024. The market is very competitive, with the top five brands owning 11 to 13 percent of the market share. However, there is an apparent leader regarding premium wine, which owns 22 percent of the market share—Purcari, a winery from the Republic of Moldova that has tripled its share since 2014. They also own brands such as Bostavan, Crama Ceptura, and Bardar.
This competitive market is driven by discerning consumers prioritizing quality and brand recognition. Projections indicate a promising future for the alcohol industry, with an estimated per capita revenue reaching around 300 U.S. dollars by the end of this decade.
Alcohol revenue is expected to grow, while volume is expected to decline
The Romanian alcohol market registered a revenue increase of six percent in 2024. The market looks optimistic, expecting a 17.3 percent increase by 2029. The drop in alcohol quantity in Romania's market can also be observed in terms of sales volume and consumption. In 2023, the amount of alcohol sold dropped by about 51 million liters. The forecast expects alcohol sales volume to drop by roughly 1.7 billion liters by 2025. Thus, the increase in future revenue will be caused by increased alcohol prices.Romanians are the heaviest drinkers in Europe
Alcohol consumption has remained relatively steady since 2014. In 2023, the annual alcohol consumption per capita in Romania was approximately 17 liters of pure alcohol, making it the highest among European nations. On average, a man consumes 27 liters of pure alcohol per year, which is equivalent to over 1,000 beers. Beer and wine products are trendy among consumers. As a result, annual beer consumption per capita has increased by more than 12 percent since 2014, reaching 83 liters in 2022.According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine, Romania was listed as one of the countries with the highest wine consumption worldwide in 2023. The country’s annual wine consumption totaled three million hectoliters that year. The local population favored red wine as well as white and rosé.
A competitive market with several leaders
In 2022, Romania boasted 90 operational breweries, with Ursus Breweries emerging as the leader in the beer production industry. The company achieved a remarkable revenue of over 2.6 billion Romanian lei in 2023. Other well-known brands are Timișoreana, Ciucaș, and Peroni.The wine market revenue is expected to reach 757 million U.S. dollars by 2024. The market is very competitive, with the top five brands owning 11 to 13 percent of the market share. However, there is an apparent leader regarding premium wine, which owns 22 percent of the market share—Purcari, a winery from the Republic of Moldova that has tripled its share since 2014. They also own brands such as Bostavan, Crama Ceptura, and Bardar.
This competitive market is driven by discerning consumers prioritizing quality and brand recognition. Projections indicate a promising future for the alcohol industry, with an estimated per capita revenue reaching around 300 U.S. dollars by the end of this decade.
