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• Mexico: Latin America's largest beverage company, FEMSA announced that on Nov. 19, 2003, an amended Schedule 13D was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission reflecting an increase in the own ...more info



• Heineken intends to launch its first-ever advertising campaign for its Amstel brand created for the UK market. Amstel will launch a new TV campaign to be broadcast during UEFA Champions League ...more info



• Thailand’s beer maker, Boon Rawd Brewery, has threatened on November 19 to take legal action against Thailand’s Excise Department, Bangkok post reported November 21 ...more info



• SABMiller plc, the world's second-biggest brewer, said on November 20 its two top international premium beer brands were proving popular newcomers in South Africa and would help future profit ...more info



• UK-based Diageo Plc's, the maker of Guinness beer, planned 500 million euro five-year bond will be priced at 20-23 basis points over swaps ...more info



• Analyst Caroline S Levy of UBS downgrades Adolph Coors (RKY) from "neutral" to "reduce." The target price has been reduced from $56 to $54, New Ratings reported on November 19 ...more info

2. Brewery News

The world's second-largest brewer, SABMiller plc, announced on November 20 its six-month results to 30 September 2003. The company has registered a turnover of US$ 6,328 million a 59% increase from the same period last year. “Strong underlying business performance delivered excellent results with group EBITA up 61% and adjusted earnings per share up 32%. Organic, constant currency EBITA growth of 21% was impressive with, notably, Europe up 27% and Beer South Africa up 14%. Our Africa and Asia business once again delivered a good performance from its widespread portfolio with EBITA up 18%. In Miller, the emphasis remains firmly on our longer-term strategy and action plans. Progress is being made in each of the four key focus areas, whilst financial performance remains in line with our expectations. Our Central America operation is starting to benefit from our initiatives to enhance its brand portfolio and distribution activities. We have strengthened our international operations and enhanced our future growth potential through selective strategic acquisitions, which we have financed from our strong internal cash flows and available borrowing facilities,” said Graham Mackay, Company’s Chief Executive. Total beverage volumes were 93 million hectolitres (hls), a 24% increase on the comparable six-month period, with organic growth of 2.3%. Lager beer volumes were up 31% to 76 million hls, representing organic growth of 3.2%. SABMiller, based in London, the maker of Miller Lite, Castle and Pilsner Urquell beers said it was starting to see a better performance from Miller Lite in recent months and believes brand volumes may stabilise early next year as part of its three-year recovery plan...more info

Adolph Coors Co., the No. 3 U.S. brewer, said on November 19 that it plans to introduce a low carbohydrate beer in 10 states on March 1. The reason is to gain larger market share with health-conscious drinkers. The new beer, called Aspen Edge, is designed to compete with products such as rival Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.'s Michelob Ultra. Coors said in a statement it plans to make the product available across the United States by the end of 2004. "We are excited to offer consumers a full-flavor, low-carbohydrate beer," said Sara Mirelez, brand manager for Aspen Edge, in a statement. Coors, which also makes the popular Coors Light brand, will launch Aspen Edge with the help of television, billboard, radio and print advertisements. Coors said the new brand would be sold in packages of 6 bottles and 12 bottles. SABMiller PLC is attempting to enter the market as well, by recasting its existing Miller Lite brand as a low-carbohydrate beer. Coors, the third-largest brewer in the United States, after Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing, sells about a dozen beer brands in the United States. Coors Light accounts for about 70 % of its sales. Coors Brewing is the main operating unit of Golden-based Adolph Coors Co. The company sells its products in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Over the past year, Michelob Ultra has allowed Anheuser-Busch to consistently increase profits in an industry suffering from sluggish volume growth worldwide.

Brazil brewery, Companhia de Bebidas das Americas SA (AmBev) sued its competitor Shincariol as its market share continues to slide in favour of Schincariol. AmBev has seen its market share drop steadily since Schincariol rolled out its Nova Schin brand in late August. In June, AmBev held 70% of Brazil’s market but, according to Dow Jones, that has slipped to 63.8% in October. AmBev filed a complaint with the civil court after Schincariol ads showed a blindfolded taster choose its new brew over a selection of AmBev brands. The court found in favour of AmBev and banned the advert this week. As AmBev’s share of Brazil's beer market, the fourth largest in the world, drops with each month, Schincariol saw its beer volumes rise in October to 14.1%, up from 11.5% last month and 9.7% in June. This growth is on the back of a million-dollar advertising campaign built around the simple statement, "Try it!" AmBev missed sales volumes targets in the third quarter of 2003.

SUN Interbrew Limited a leading brewer in Russia and Ukraine, announced on November 19 its financial results for the third quarter ended 30 September 2003. In Russia SUN Interbrew posted 30% volume growth in the third quarter, with the overall market growing by just under 7%. This led to a market share increase from 12.5% in the third quarter of 2002 to 14.9 % in the third quarter of 2003. In Ukraine, SUN Interbrew further strengthened its leading position with volume growth of 10% (versus 4% market growth) and a market share increase from 31.7% in the third quarter of 2002 to 33.5 % in the third quarter of 2003. On Group level, EBITDA for the quarter increased by 31.7%, versus the third quarter 2002, to €41.8m. After stripping out the negative currency impact, EBITDA was €48.9m, or 54% higher than in the third quarter of 2002. Net Income in the third quarter was €19.1m, 71.1% higher than in the same period last year, representing the highest result in SUN Interbrew history. The Company continued its strategy of introducing new higher margin products, improving the sales mix. Strong brand performance: Klinskoye® and Sibirskaya Korona® grew further in the Core and Local Premium segments, primarily due to continuous brand and packaging innovations. The performance of Tolstiak® and regional brands in the lower price segments was also encouraging. Significant growth of Stella Artois® and Staropramen® supported the company's effort to occupy a solid position in the Super Premium segment of the market. Chernigivske®'s strong performance in Ukraine was also a remarkable achievement in the third quarter...more info

3. Malt News

Raisio Malt, Finland’s largest producer of brewing malt, has published recently that in its main malting barley sourcing area, the harvesting has been completed in favourable weather conditions. It seems that the crop level per hectare will be very much the same as last crop year, in some areas even higher (3500-4500 kg/ha), the company said. The total barley area in Finland was about 530 000 hectares. “On the basis of the pre-samples analysed so far, the barley has excellent germination, good kernel size, good general appearance and sound colour. The protein level is slightly higher than the start of the season indicated. Compared with the last year’s crop, malting barley 2003 is of better quality. The need to import malting barley will be estimated a bit later, after the necessary screenings have been carried out.” Raisio Malt has an annual capacity of 105,000 tonnes and is formed by 38 employees. Raisio Malt forms one part of the Raisio Group a leading Finnish foods, animal feeds and paper chemicals enterprise.

Byelorussian Government is not satisfied with the country’s production of malting barley, country’s press reported on November 20. The figures of November 17 said that Belarus processed about 15.3 thousand tonnes of malting barley so far or 21.9% of needed volume. Out of this OAO Belsolod output 4.71 thousand tonnes, OAO Krinitsa 1.38 thousand tonnes, OAO Brestskoe Pivo – 1.81 thousand tonnes, OAO Slutsky Brewery - 1,44 thousand tonnes. The results were attributed to the drought registered in several parts of Belarus this year, and rains during the harvest. Another causes are non-observance of technology of processing malting barley and weak financing of farmers. Now Belarus is planning to organise a tender on importing malt and malting barley this year. Byelorussian brewers consume about 80 thousand tonnes of malting barley per year. In the soviet time Belarus used to process about 200 tonnes of malting barley.

4. Barley News

The successful conclusion of negotiations on the Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement was announced on October 19 by the Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported. The text of the agreement is expected to be signed in the first half of 2004 and to enter into force after legal and parliamentary processes have been completed in both countries. Immediately upon entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement, Thailand will eliminate the current tariffs on wheat (ad valorem equivalent of 12-20%), barley, rye and oats (ad valorem equivalents of up to 25%), and the tariff and tariff rate quota on rice. It will also immediately eliminate the tariffs on unroasted malt (ad valorem equivalent of 28%) and wheat gluten (31%), and phase the tariffs on wheat flour (32.6%) and starch (31%) to zero in 2010. For beer and spirits, Thailand will immediately reduce its current tariffs of 60% to 30%, before phasing to zero in 2010. “Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement represents a significant breakthrough with substantial benefits for Australian exporters,” John Howard said...more info

Export of barley from Ukraine in September 2003 came to 381,000 tonnes, increasing 4.6 times from the previous month. However this amount is 37 % less than the export in September 2002, AgriMarket reported on November 19. Average contract price for barley, exported in September was $133 per tonne, against $118 per tonne in August. In September, as well as in August, virtually the whole export of barley went to Middle East countries: to Saudi Arabia (318,000 tonnes or 84 %) and Kuwait (35,000 tonnes or 9 %). Thirteen thousand tonnes or 3 % were sold to Cyprus. Sales to other countries were insignificant. Import of barley to Ukraine in September was just 287 tonnes, which is 4 times less than in August and approximately 10 times less than in September 2002. Almost the whole amount was supplied from Russia.