Japan: Asahi’s beer sales down 6% in January – April this year

Japan’s Asahi Breweries said on May, 17 its total domestic beer sales declined by 5.1% to 183,605 kl in April 2010. January – April beer sales dropped by 6% to 570,904 kl.

Low-malt happoshu beer saw the biggest decrease in demand – minus 35% in April and minus 34.2% in the first four months of this year. Sales of ordinary beer fell by 3.9% and 5.4% respectively, whereas new genre malt-based beer enjoyed an 18.4% growth last month and 19.7% growth in Jan-Apr.

Clear Asahi was the only brand to see increase in demand both in April and in the first four months of 2010. Sales of Asahi Off dropped most, by 17.6% and 12.7% respectively.

19 May, 2010