China was the world's No 1 beer-drinking nation in 2005 for the third straight year, 19.5% of worldwide consumption. The Chinese drank around 5.2% more beer in 2005 than in 2004. They consumed a combined 30.49 million kilolitres, according to Kirin Brewery’s recent statement.

The Japanese beer producer attributed China's increase in consumption to the country's economic expansion spreading inland and boosting beer consumption there.

The United States took second place, followed by Germany, Brazil and Russia. Beer drinkers in Brazil and Russia, where health-conscious consumers are turning to more low-alcohol products, drank more beer in 2005 than in 2004.

Japan retained sixth place at 6.34 million kilolitres, down 3.1 percent.

Worldwide beer consumption rose 2.8 per cent in 2005 to 155.96 million kilolitres, marking the 20th consecutive year-on-year gain. The amount would fill the Tokyo Dome baseball stadium 126 times over, the brewer said.

The Brewers Association Export Development Program in partnership with American Craft Beer Partners (Pittsburgh, Penn.) announced on December 18, the first, to their knowledge, mixed container shipment of American craft beers to mainland China.

An assortment of award winning American craft beers from Rogue Ales Brewery (OR), Brooklyn Brewery (NY) and North Coast Brewing Co. (CA) beers are being shipped on a container from Seattle in mid-December to Shanghai, China.

This shipment is a culmination of a three-year effort consisting of market research into opportunities for US craft beer in China and reverse trade missions to the US by leading Chinese beer distributors. Funds for this work came in large part from the United States Department of Agriculture's Emerging Markets Program.

The beer will be available in early January at high-end bars and restaurants in Shanghai at a range of 35 RMB ($4.50) to 55 RMB ($7.00) per bottle.

American Craft Beer Partners is working on agreements with on and off-premise accounts to order larger volumes if sales targets for the first shipment are met and distribution goes as planned American Craft Beer Partners looks forward to exporting additional containers to China soon.

ABB Grain Ltd has reviewed its gross barley pool indicators for 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 and has increased by A$8/tonne its estimate for current season malting barley and raised its estimate by A$3/t for current season feed barley, ABB Grain Ltd released December 18.

Old season estimates remain unchanged.

Executive manager group marketing, Gary Spiel, said that while domestic barley prices were softening, international market demand remained very strong, particularly for malting barley.

“As a result, we’ve been able to increase our gross barley estimate for current season malting barley to A$328/tonne and also increase to A$241/t the feed barley estimate for current season grain,” Mr Spiel said.

“The Chinese are still expected to shortly need their first half year requirements for barley in 2007 and Australia is well placed to fulfil some of that demand.”

Mr Spiel said that international demand for quality feed barley remained strong and Australia was well placed to take advantage of the current world supply and demand profile.

The CWB announced that 2006-07 initial payments for feed and designated barley will increase effective December 21, 2006.

The increase in initial payments for feed barley in Pool A will be C$60.50 per tonne, while the increase for designated barley will be C$27 for two-row and C$20 for six-row varieties.

The adjustment payments, in dollars per tonne, for representative grades in each pool account are listed below. The total initial payment to date is basis in-store Vancouver or St. Lawrence and must be adjusted for freight/elevation charges to arrive at farm gate prices.

No. 1 CW Barley (Pool A): to C$79.50 initial payment will be adjusted C$60.50 for C$145 total payment and 2006-07 Pool Return Outlook will constitute C$177.

SS CW 2 Row Designated Barley: to C$147 initial payment will be adjusted C$27 for C$174 total payment and the 2006-07 Pool Return Outlook will constitute C$203

SS CW 6 Row Designated Barley: to C$141 initial payment will be adjusted C$20 for C$161 total payment and 2006-07 Pool Return Outlook will constitute C$198.

According to National Agricultural Statistic Service report of December 15, the hop production for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington in 2006 totaled 57.7 million pounds, up 9 percent from the 2005 crop of 52.9 million pounds, and 4 percent above the 2004 production of 55.2 million pounds. Idaho’s production decreased 16 percent in 2006. Production in Washington and Oregon increased 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively. Washington showed a 2 percent acreage increase.

Oregon and Idaho acreage were down 2 percent and 15 percent, respectively. Yields increased in Washington to 2,058 pounds per acre, and in Oregon to 1,760 pounds per acre. Idaho yields averaged 1,613 pounds per acre, 27 pounds less than a year ago.

Washington growers produced 77 percent of the U.S. hop crop for 2006. Zeus, Columbus/Tomahawk, Galena, and Willamette were the leading varieties in Washington, accounting for 71 percent of the State’s hop crop.

In Oregon, Willamette and Nugget were the major varieties, accounting for 77 percent of the State’s hop production.