E-Malt.com Flash 30b. July 28

China: Carlsberg and partners inaugurate a US$ 15 mln new brewery

Carlsberg A/S announced that a new brewery – a so-called green field brewery – was inaugurated on July 29, 2005 in the Qinghai province in the Western part of China...more info

Colombia: Grupo Empresarial Bavaria announces Q2 and H1 2005 earnings

Grupo Empresarial Bavaria (GEB), the largest beverage company in Colombia and the second-largest brewer in South America, announced on July 29 a 9.9% increase in sales volume...more info

Russia: Beer consumption decreases, competition for high quality ups

Beer consumption in Russia decreased by 3.7% during the first five months of the year, according to the Federal Statistics Service and in line with market expectations, RIA Novosti communicated on July 28. Before the end of summer, another 1% is likely to be added to this figure, and by year's end annual growth of the beer sector should reach 5%. Starting next year the sector is expected to grow a healthy 3% a year.

The slowing of volume growth does not necessarily mean a slowing of income generation for the sector as consumers are expected to trade up to highly quality and more expensive brands.

Increasing disposal income and extensive advertising and promotional campaigns are likely to overcome recent advertising restrictions and public warnings about alcohol consumption.

At present, the sector is highly consolidated and dominated by large, and primarily foreign-owned, brewers. With the exception of Baltika, smaller domestic brewers are squeezed out of the market share by larger players. Under these conditions, competition should increase and put pressure on the margins of all market players.

As the sector develops, market watchers expect the larger brewers to extend market share and force the smaller producers to either fold or become niche players, RIA Novosti commented.

USA: Anheuser-Busch reports Q2 and first six months 2005 financial results

Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. reported on July 27 that its consolidated net sales increased 0.2 % in the second quarter of 2005, while diluted earnings per share (excluding two one-time income tax gains) decreased 8.4 %. For the first six months, net sales increased 1.3 % and earnings per share (excluding one-time gains in both 2005 and 2004) declined 6.7 %.

"Anheuser-Busch had a challenging first six months in its domestic beer business,” said Patrick Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the company. “Both the company and the domestic beer industry experienced volume declines and higher cost pressures. Anheuser-Busch has implemented a number of initiatives to enhance beer volume and market share growth, including introduction of new products and packaging, increased investments in domestic marketing, stepped-up on-premise sales activities and tactical price promotions and we are encouraged by our sales improvement in June. During the second quarter, wholesaler inventories were reduced significantly and are now below last year. Although we are confident the company will restore its sales momentum and return to solid earnings growth in the future, we are currently forecasting 2005 earnings per share to be below 2004 results, excluding the one-time gains."

During the second quarter of 2005, domestic beer sales-to-wholesalers decreased 3.7 percent compared with the second quarter 2004, and wholesaler sales-to-retailers declined 0.2 percent. Wholesaler inventories were reduced significantly during the quarter, from approximately 1.5 days higher than last year at the beginning of the quarter to over one day lower than 2004 at the end of the quarter.

...more info

Germany: Sales of beer up 0.3% in the first half of 2005

In the first half of this year the beer producing and storing establishments in Germany sold 51.9 million hl of beer...more info

Malt News

Russia & Ukraine: EBRD to buy shares in Lesaffre’s yeast and malt making subsidiaries

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on July 28 it has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire equity stakes worth a total of up to $30 million...more info

Barley News

Australia: Demand from China for malting barley is to return to normal levels

Barley producers may receive significantly higher prices for their next crop, as worldwide demand increases and supplies from other countries fall...more info

Hops News

USA: Minor acreage increase in 2005 hops crop

The official hop acreage survey conducted by the USDA has already been published. The US growers who used to play a leading role with regard to acreage reductions in former years have increased their acreage by 586 ha (1,448 acres) in crop 2005, Joh. Barth & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG, the agricultural company that processes and trades hops and hop products worldwide, announced at the beginning of July 2005. This number is composed of 430 ha (1,062 acres) bitter hops (Galena, Super High Alpha, Nugget) and 156 ha (385 acres) aroma hops. The aroma sector also shows clear variety changes: Willamette +255 ha (+630 acres / +11%); Cascade -107 ha (-264 acres / -18%); US-Perle -82 ha (-203 acres / -67%).

The dollar which is still undervalued will help US high alpha hops in crop 2005 to regain more importance on the world market.

The big surplus of bitter hops from former crops that influenced the price structure for US spot hops has mainly been sold. Therefore the price for bitter hops crop 2005 has already recovered. Furthermore, new markets have opened up for hops outside the brewing industry. Their needs are mainly satisfied by US hops and will have growing influence on demand.

Some varieties already show a shortage in supply at present. E.g. the varieties Galena and Nugget have been completely sold by pre-contracts. The variety Millennium, however, is available to balance Nugget shortage. The variety Cluster has become a niche variety and can only be secured by making pre-contracts.

Some growers intended to introduce a Hop Marketing Order in the US. After longer hearings, this petition was finally declined by the USDA.