Central and Eastern European Municipal Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Markets

Abstract

Harmonisation of EU Directives in Central and Eastern European Countries Fuel Municipal Water and Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market Growth

One of the biggest drivers in the steadily growing Central and Eastern European (CEE) municipal water and wastewater treatment equipment market is the harmonisation of European Union (EU) directives in the new and candidate countries. The process involves incorporating water and wastewater directives into national legislations, formation of river basin districts and designation of Sensitive Areas as per Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). However, the state institutions in both the new member states and the candidate countries responsible for implementation are not yet equipped, making it difficult to meet the deadlines. This is delaying the sales of water and wastewater treatment equipment.

This Frost & Sullivan research service examines the Central and Eastern European municipal water and wastewater treatment equipment market, detailing revenue forecasts by segments and providing market share analysis. This research provides an analysis of the various regional markets broadly classified into New EU member states and EU candidates and other CEE countries. The content of this research is valuable to both large and small market participants seeking to position themselves for maximum return on investment in one of the growing markets with long term potential.

EU Funding Vital for Water and Wastewater Infrastructural Growth

"The EU funding aims at assisting new member states and candidate countries improve the water and wastewater infrastructure in the region, and is the most important driver for the municipal water and wastewater treatment equipment market," says the analyst of the research. The Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-accession (ISPA), established in 2000 is an integral part of EUs pre-accession strategy, and has been funding these projects meeting the EU standards. ISPA with an annual budget of $1.20 billion distributes funds based on the beneficiary countries population, area and gross domestic product (GDP).

Funding for upgrading environmental infrastructure in the CEE countries that joined EU in 2004 -- Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Baltic States, Slovenia and Slovakia -- is likely to continue and more than double in size through the Cohesion Fund. The Cohesion Funds yearly package for the eight new member states is estimated at $3 billion per year for 2004-06, compared to the $1 billion under the ISPA mechanism. The candidate countries of Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro will receive ISPA funding and after their scheduled accession to the EU in 2007 are expected to obtain more assistance through the Cohesion Fund.

Adopting Innovative Pricing Strategies and Focusing on Niche Markets Key to Success

"The buoyant CEE municipal water and wastewater treatment equipment market is very price sensitive," stresses the analyst. "The choice of treatment processes is often based on price and made to meet the stipulated legislative guidelines rather than to take advantage of the long-term benefits of advanced treatment systems." Hence, the low-price equipment vendors in south-eastern Europe are offering stiff competition to suppliers coming in from the mature western European municipal market.

CEE municipal water and wastewater treatment equipment vendors need to look at increasing their market focus, adopt innovative pricing strategies, establish local partnerships and concentrate on niche regional markets or product segments such as treatment plants for smaller communities.