70% of glassware made by Romanian companies is destined for export to Western Europe & the USA, while the remaining 30% is sold domestically. Romanian glassware sells best in Germany and France, where exports in 2003 were worth $40M. Clear or coloured glass vases, glasses & giftware are the highest in demand abroad. The President of the Romanian Glassware Makers Organisation, Valentin Mocanu, said that the Asian expansion will not affect the Romanian market. Romanian producers are targeting the local market, as Romanians are increasingly interested in domestic products, & prefer quality to price. Since 1989, the number of glassware factories in the country has increased from 25 to over 160, yet they only meet half of domestic demand. Glassware from the Czech Republic, Turkey, Slovakia and Italy accounts for the remainder of the Romanian market.
