Brazilian AmBev (Compania de Bebidas de las Americas), the world's No. 5 brewer, has agreed to sell a 25 % stake in its Peruvian operation to local conglomerate Grupo Romero, the company said on March 9, according to Reuters.

"This operation will allow AmBev to benefit from Grupo Romero's know-how, strengthening AmBev Peru," the company said in a statement.

AmBev, a unit of InBev, the world's biggest brewer, did not give details of the transactions, but said it would also give Grupo Romero the option to lift its interest to 30 percent in AmBev Peru.

AmBev's main rival in Peru is SABMiller's subsidiary Backus & Johnston. Backus has 99 % of the market with its Pilsen, Cristal and Cusquena brands.

Peru has one of Latin America's lowest per capita beer consumption rates, making it an attractive market.

Grupo Romero has businesses ranging from banking to food and logistics.

Australian brewer Lion Nathan Ltd. said its major stakeholder Kirin Brewery Co. had no current intention of increasing its shareholding in the company, in response to comments from the Japanese brewer's president to Reuters, Reuters communicated on March 9.

Lion Nathan shares jumped nearly 5 percent after Kirin President Kazuyasu Kato said in an interview earlier on Thursday that the company was waiting for a chance to increase its stake in Lion Nathan, but no timing for such a move had been set.

"Their business is attractive, and we would consider (raising the stake) when the time is right," Kato said. He added: "We do not intend to launch a hostile takeover."

Lion Nathan said Kirin was "extremely pleased" with its investment but had told the Australian brewer that there were no immediate plans to raise its stake.

"Kirin has confirmed that it currently has no intention of increasing its stake in Lion Nathan, which stands at 46 percent of issued share capital," the company said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange.

Lion Nathan shares closed up 4.7 percent at A$8.64 in a wider Australian market up 0.4 percent. ($1=A$1.37)

Russia has a malt capacity of 1.4 million tonnes. Malt imports in 2005 were 344,000 tonnes versus 555,000 tonnes in 2004.

In last quarter of 2005 imports were only 45,000 tonnes.

For 2006 analysts has prognosticated malt imports at 150,000 tonnes. Malt imports are needed, if at all, for reasons of quality.

The actual stocks and market situation in the EU is as follows:

Total intervention stocks (accepted and to be accepted by authorities) are 17.5 million tonnes. Countries with the largest stocks are Hungary 6.9 million tonnes, Germany 5.4 million tonnes (1.7 million tonnes old rye stocks), Poland 1,4 million tonnes. Major commodities are wheat 8.8 million tonnes, maize 5.6 million tonnes. Barley at 1.4 million tonnes is a lesser burden.

Barley export licence bookings have reached 2.5 million tonnes. Competition from Black Sea barley in world markets has decreased, but also demand is sluggish. Total EU barley exports may reach about 3.7 million tonnes, as forecast by the IGC, London.