E-Malt.com Flash 31a. August 01

New Zealand & Belgium: InBev beers to be sold by Lion Nathan in New Zealand

InBev, the world’s largest beer company by volumes, announced on August 1, 2005 that it has signed a distribution agreement with Lion Nathan NZ...more info

Hungary & Czech Republic: Plzenský Prazdroj’s Velkopopovický Kozel brand launched in Hungary

Plzenský Prazdroj, the largest Czech brewer, announced on August 1, 2005 that as of July the largest Hungarian brewery, Dreher, started brewing its Velkopopovický Kozel brand under the licence...more info

USA: Molson Coors Reports 2005 Second Quarter Results

Molson Coors Brewing Company announced on August 2, higher consolidated net sales and sales volume, and lower net income for the second quarter of 2005 compared to the second quarter of 2004. Higher consolidated sales volume and net sales were attributable to the inclusion of Molson Inc. results in the second quarter of 2005 but not in the second quarter of 2004. Lower net income of $38.5 million, or $0.45 per share, was primarily attributable to special charges totalling $87.7 million in the second quarter 2005.

For the 13-week second quarter ended June 26, 2005, the company reported net sales of $1.6 billion and sales volume of 12,799,000 barrels, or 15,019,100 hl. Excluding special items and merger-related amortization expense, the company reported after-tax income of $105.1 million*, or $1.22 per share, for the 2005 second quarter, down 12.4 percent from 2004 on a pro forma basis. The company's effective tax rate during the second quarter 2005 was 53.0 percent, or 37.5 percent excluding special items and merger-related amortization.

The company plans to file an amended first quarter 2005 Form 10-Q later this week to correct the initial recording of a U.S. deferred tax asset as part of the purchase accounting for its U.K. acquisition in 2002. Due to the change, the company will restate its first quarter 2005 tax provision and earnings. The company still expects its long-term effective tax rate excluding Brazil losses to be in the range of 25 to 30 percent.

...more info

China: Budvar’s victory in the dispute with Anheuser-Busch

Czech brewery Budejovicky Budvar has won a trademark dispute with its rival Anheuser-Busch in China, Prague Daily Monitor communicated on Tuesday, August 2. "Our trademarks will be registered only if the Americans do not appeal by the set deadline," stated Petr Samec, Budvar spokesman. The dispute in China begun in 1999.

"Still, we are glad. Demand for foreign beer is only beginning to grow, but this market has big potential for us in the future," said Jiri Bocek, Budvar chief executive.

Budejovicky Budvar and Anheuser-Busch have been arguing over the right to use the Budweiser name and other trademarks for 99 years.

They are involved in 40 trademark disputes and more than 70 administrative proceedings at patent offices worldwide. Budvar has registered in more than one hundred countries 380 trademarks.

UK: Interbrew UK changes name

Starting with August 1, 2005 Interbrew UK has the name of “InBev UK”. This change in name is the result of the merger of its parent company, Interbrew SA, with AmBev brewer in August 2004.

InBev UK’s trading companies Bass Ireland Ltd and Interbrew Ireland change as well their names into InBev Ireland Limited and InBev Ireland, correspondingly.

The InBev UK name and logo will be used on all new communications. A special programme will be carried out to substitute the Interbrew UK logo and name.

InBev is today, the leading global brewer by volume and has a portfolio of more than 200 brands.

Malt News

Germany& UK: Malt industry analysts about factories shutdowns

In view of the existing and growing overcapacity in the malt industry, analysts point out that they have seen permanent and temporary shutdowns of factories in several countries...more info

EU: EU malt export sales for July 2005

Malt export sales in July were small...more info

Barley News

United Kingdom: Analysts about UK malting barley crop

Muntons PLC reported to E-Malt on July 28, 2005 that despite some interruptions because of rain, the majority of the winter malting barley crop in the East Anglia has been combined.

Buying for use their Stowmarket Maltings, Mike Norfolk, Muntons Grain Manager said, ”This has to be one of the better harvests for a while. As far as our contract winter malting barleys are concerned every sample has passed. Quality is good and prospects are excellent. ”

“In Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Pearl malting barley has again performed well,” commented Bridlington Grain Manager, Mark Ineson. “Flagon has also been a success with excellent quality and nitrogen levels”

Around 70% of East Anglian winter malting barley crop and 50%of the Yorkshire/Lincolnshire crop has been harvested. One or two spring barleys are now appearing but it is too early to comment although prospects look good at this stage.

There are reports that malting barley in the south of England is less good than in the rest of the country but this represents only a small percentage of the requirements of the UK malting industry and is unlikely to cause any supply difficulties.

China: Analysts’ opinion on Chinese malting barley market

According to the forecasts of Chinese analysts the total barley crop will be of 3.1 million tonnes...more info

Hops News

Europe: Joh. Barth & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG evaluates European hops growth as normal

The European hop growing areas report normal growing conditions, Joh. Barth & Sohn GmbH & Co. KG, the agricultural company that processes and trades hops...more info