Latvia’s second biggest brewery JSC Cesu Alus sold 140,900 hl of beer in 1H, up by 20 pct year-on-year, Dienas Bizness communicated July 11.

In comparison with the same period of year 2004, the sales have increased by 42 pct in 1H of 2006. The biggest increase was registered in June 2006, when JSC Cesu Alus in June sold 52,900 hl of drinks, making a new one-month record sales.

In comparison with the previous month, sales of Cesu Alus production increased by 26 pct in June. If compared with the same period last year, sales of Cesu Alus has increased by 34 pct in June 2006.

Sales of cider and alcopops have increased by 46 pct in 1H of 2006, but sales of soft drinks and juices – by 41 pct year-on-year.

Cesu Alus is owned by Finnish holding OLVI Oyj which is the third biggest beer producer in Finland.

Compania Cervecerias Unidas S.A. (CCU) reported July 07 preliminary second quarter 2006 consolidated volumes.

According to the preliminary figures, the company's 2Q beer sales in Chile hiked by 20.9% to 865,120 hl. 2006 to date results (1Q+2Q) showed an increase of 12.7% to 2,235,208 hl of beer. Total sales of CCU during 2Q totaled 2,201,437 (+12.0%) hl.

CCU 2Q sales in Argentina ramped by 11.6% to 2,621,048 hl. The preliminary volume breakout shows beer accumulated a share of 407.937hl (+9.1%). Argentina 2006 to date results indicated an upturn of 6.276.468 hl (+8.1%), from which 1,073,954 hl emanated from beer sales.

The company plans to release its consolidated second quarter results by the first week of August.

CCU is a diversified beverage company operating principally in Chile and Argentina. It is the largest Chilean brewer, the second-largest Argentine brewer, the third-largest Chilean soft drink producer, the second-largest Chilean wine producer, the largest Chilean mineral water producer, one of the largest Chilean pisco producers and also participates in the confectionery industry in Chile.

The Company has licensing and/or joint venture arrangements with Heineken Brouwerijen B.V., Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Paulaner Brauerei AG, Schweppes Holdings Limited and Watt’s Alimentos S.A.

Scottish & Newcastle's French subsidiary, Brasseries Kronenbourg, has entered into exclusive negotiations with Frankfurter Brauhaus about the proposed sale of the Champigneulles Brewery near Nancy, The Scotsman posted July 11.

Last February, S&N, the biggest brewer in France, announced that Kronenbourg was consulting its workforce on the proposed restructuring of its brewing business, including the possible Champigneulles sale. S&N said July 10 that Frankfurter Brauhaus plans to retain up to 100 people at Champigneulles. In addition, a number of employees will be retained relating to the transfer of branded beer production to the Obernai brewery.

The Scottish group said it expected the deal to be struck by the end of August 2006.

Norway Bryggeriforeningen (nationwide brewers' association) said Norwegians chugged 251,000 hl of beer in June. That's quite a bit in a country of just 4.5 million people, and where a glass of beer in a bar or restaurant can cost the equivalent of more than USD 10, Aftenposten communicated July 11.

Overall beer sales were up 7.6 percent compared with June of last year.

Sales of beer in six-pack half-liter cans jumped 30 percent compared to June 2005. Alcohol-free beer also was more popular than last year, with sales up 27.4 percent. Beer sales through the first six months of the year were also up, by 4.4 percent, compared to the first-half of last year.

The brewery association also thinks that beer sales were boosted by the World Cup for soccer, as fans gathered in bars or private homes to watch it over a mug or two. Warm, sunny weather in June clearly helped too.

The soccer world cup and excellent summer weather have created an unexpected beer boom, especially in Germany and the U.K., but even far away and uninvolved countries like Thailand and China talk of a link between soccer and good beer sales.

There will hardly be a long term effect on the beer consumption in the world, however, maltsters enjoy very good call-offs and new sales for this summer.

As reports earlier said, EU maltsters had closed capacities and reduced production in some plants during winter and spring, now many of them lack stocks and capacities to satisfy the demand. Export business and further demand have also been substantial, Africa, Thailand and Venezuela purchased additional malt for 2006.

The situation is further complicated by a long interruption of two factories' production in Hungary, leading to a loss of approx. 90,000 tons of malt stocks for 2006 in Southeast Europe. Last, not least, malting barley of crop 2005 is extremely scarce and expensive.