Catalin Ignat, marketing manager with United Romania Bereprod Breweries, a licensed producer of Tuborg and Carlsberg brands, says the company has doubled its exports each year since 2004 and is banking on an upward trend after integration, too.

"Following the elimination of custom duties starting 2007, some new import brands will penetrate the Romanian market more easily, with Romanian exports to the EU to be also facilitated.

"As for us, we have been taking some big steps in this direction for several years and we plan to retain the position of Romania's biggest exporter of premium beer next year," stated Catalin Ignat.

According to company data, starting 2004, URBB has doubled its exports each year. From a 3.6% weight in turnover in 2004, exports have gradually come to contribute more to turnover, 7.5% in 2005.

In 2006, volumes delivered abroad will account for 15% in the company's turnover, and for 2007 the company is banking on a 30% rise in exports, to 20% of turnover.

URBB annually brews around 1.2 million hectolitres of beer, which means some 180,000 hectolitres of beer made in the brewery of Pantelimon will be headed to foreign markets this year.

All the 4 brands produced domestically (Skol, Holsten, Tuborg and Carlsberg) are also exported. Tuborg and Holsten are exported to the Republic of Moldova.

For Skol, the company has contracts in Hong Kong and in the Republic of Moldova and is currently in talks with the US, while Carlsberg is exported to Bulgaria and Serbia. URBB also has Guinness and Kilkenny brands in its portfolio, both imported and sold on the Romanian market.

Each product has its own role and position in the portfolio. "Strategically, we are present on the market only with international and well-known brands," explained the marketing manager. Amid export growth and the rising beer consumption in Ro