Japan: Beer, quasi-beer shipments up 0.8% in October 2007 y/y

Shipments of beer and quasi-beer beverages in Japan in October grew 0.8 pct from a year before to 39,329,000 cases as robust shipments of the so-called third-segment beverages offset sluggish demand for "happoshu," Jiji Press reported November 12.

Each case contains the equivalent of 20 633-milliliter bottles.

Shipments of third-segment beverages, which have little or no malt content, increased 5.2 pct to 9,180,000 cases, setting a record for the month of October, thanks to a string of new product launches.

Beer shipments rose 0.1 pct to 20,370,000 cases as demand from restaurant grew.

Meanwhile, shipments of "happoshu" low-malt quasi-beer beverages fell 1.8 pct to 9,780,000 cases, marking the sixth consecutive drop.

Among major brewers, Asahi Breweries Ltd., Kirin Brewery Co. and Suntory Ltd. posted rises, while Sapporo Breweries Ltd. logged a slight fall.

14 November, 2007