Brazilian beer maker Brahma will maintain strong its sales level in Venezuela in 2003, in spite of the country's economic and political collapse, Executive Director Luiz Franciss said. Despite the general strike in Venezuela in January, when sales were "zero," Brahma recovered strongly in February and March and its first-quarter performance was comparable to that of 2002, said Luiz Franciss. Strong beer sales expected in 2003 might be attributed to the fact that consumers affected by the economic crisis reject more expensive wines and spirits, according to Brahma.

Franciss expects the strongest growth in the light segment of the market. According to analysts the segment of light beer might increase by 50% in Venezuela in 2003 against 2002 year, when sales of light beer accounted for 40% of total beer sales.

In 2002 Brahma sold about 130 million litres in Venezuela, and was the country's third largest brewer after Polar and Regional, with a 10% market share nationally and a 19.7% share in the capital Caracas.

03 July, 2003