Business Review

After a tough 2010 which brought lower sale prices, higher input costs and no more subsidies, local poultry producers are hoping to wing it on a flat market this year, with growth not expected until 2012. Grigore Horoi, president of Agricola Bacau, told BR about the group’s export strategy and EUR 7 million investment budget for 2011.

Simona Bazavan

Romania has discovered that relations with China bring prosperity but has hitherto simply stood by and watched other EU members signing agreements with Asia’s economic powerhouse. But the country’s 62-year diplomatic relationship with the world’s second biggest economic power may prove to be an asset that will strengthen business ties between China and Romania.

Ovidiu Posirca

Romanians love their beer, especially on a scorching summer’s day, but so far it looks like not even the torrid weather will help brewers defy the droop of recent years. The local beer market fell by 3.5 percent in 2010 and another 2 percent in the first quarter of 2011, forcing local brewers to adapt to the sober new conditions.

Simona Bazavan

What do Romanian agriculture, tourism and football have in common? Firstly, every Romanian male of voting age is an expert in these areas. Secondly, the country does rather badly at all of them. Thirdly, there are few other fields, if any, where people are so fascinated by the word “potential”. If we could only achieve Romania’s agricultural/touristic/football potential… lots of good things would happen.

Catalin Dimofte

A winemaker is only as good as its least expensive varieties, says Dan Muntean, managing director of Halewood Romania, paraphrasing the Alsatian wine producer Jean Hugel. And this is good advice to follow considering that in the past couple of years Romanian wine companies have been forced to adapt to a shrinking market. Muntean gave BR his verdict on the market and shared the scoop on Halewood’s new import business.

Simona Bazavan

Although the prospect of growth is back on the table in other areas of the economy, furniture firms are just hoping to reach results similar to last year. This market is highly dependent on the construction field and domestic purchasing power, and since neither are showing signs of revival, growth seems highly unlikely, although some increase in demand is expected internally, experts tell BR.

Corina Dumitrescu

The hotter the weather in summer, the higher the sales for local mineral water bottlers – and the hike couldn’t be more refreshing. In 2010 consumption dropped for the second consecutive year and 2011 will most likely put a further dampener on hopes for growth, as it is predicted to bring only stabilization on a market estimated at around EUR 300 million.

Simona Bazavan

Driven by demand on external markets and more consistent financial support, Romanian organic agriculture is beginning to show signs of germinating. To find out more about investing in organic farming, BR talked to Wil van Eijsden, a Dutch entrepreneur who chose the Romanian region of Transylvania to set up an organic herb farm.

Simona Bazavan

Romania is due to receive around EUR 4.6 billion for transport infrastructure from EU funds. But while there are several major projects in progress, the country still has one of the lowest levels of investment in infrastructure, making foreign investors cautious about putting their money here, because of the high costs of transportation. BR investigates the hold-up.

Anda Sebesi

Ever more present in the past couple of years in Romanians’ shopping carts, private label products are gaining strategic importance on the agenda of local retailers. The crisis has also helped boost sales as consumers have become more price-aware. The market for own brand products is estimated to reach up to EUR 1.2 billion this year after amounting to EUR 0.9 billion in 2010.

Simona Bazavan