Halewood Romania group forecasts turnover will top 11.5 million euros this year, an increase of 10% from 2005, in the context where more than half of the wine production is exported, the general manager of the company, Dan Muntean, says.

"This year, we want to expand to the US and Canadian markets, with a high growth potential over the following years. Our deliveries to these states are quite small at the moment," stated Muntean.

He specified that around 68% of the production was exported to 40 states, with Halewood Romania being the biggest bottled wine exporter in Romania.

Last year, Halewood's bottled wine exports amounted to approximately 3.2 million bottles, about 5% higher year-on-year, whereas Romanian wine exports saw a decrease.

The main export destinations are the United Kingdom, the Baltic states and the Netherlands. The firm has also recently entered the markets of Mexico and Peru. Halewood Romania is a branch of British Halewood International and includes Cramele Halewood, Halewood Romania and Domeniile Halewood firms. The group manages around 380 vine hectares, most of which in the Dealu Mare wine-growing region, where it owns 185 hectares, with a further 40 rented.

At the same time, the company owns 60 hectares at Murfatlar, as well as another 110 hectares in the Transylvania Plateau, in Sebes and Ciumbrud.

Halewood Romania has invested around two million euros over the last three years to create new plantations, with its total amount of land, part of which will be subject to replanting operations, set to reach 380 hectares by 2010.

The total value of investments the company has made over the past five years in order to create an area of 147 hectares of vine and to modernise the production process exceeds seven million euros.

The company makes red, white and ros? wine, with the main varieties includin