E-Malt.com News article: 1507

Russia's beer consumption grew 6.3% to 8.75 million hl in July 2003. 7-month consumption was up 4.3% on year to 45.5 mln hl (vs. 43.63 mln hl a year earlier). Beer sales added 17.8% a year earlier.

Average beer consumption per capita jumped from 22.5 liters per person in 1998 to 49 liters in 2002. According to the investment house UFG data compiled by beverage analyst Alexei Krivoshapko in the survey titled "The Russian Brewing Sector 2003 and Beyond," Muscovites drink even more beer than their counterparts in the United States and Holland.
Muscovites quaff 90.5 liters per year of the amber nectar -- 7 liters more than the average American and 8 liters more than the beer-loving Dutch.

But industry experts said this figure was overblown and 70 liters was more realistic for Moscow, a level closer to those Brazil and Latvia.
"I still don't think it would be as high [as 90 liters]," Zagvozdina said. "As much as I wish it were true, 70 liters is more realistic."
Alexander Troitsky, deputy head of the Russian Brewers' Union, agreed that the numbers seemed too good to be true, adding that UFG may have used State Statistics Committee's figures, which put Moscow's population at 8 million to 9 million, when 11 to 12 million is closer to the truth.
The UFG report, which draws on Statistics Committee numbers, uses a population of 15 million for Moscow and the Moscow region.


02 September, 2003