Czech Republic could export about 2.05 million hl of beer this year, around 4% more than last year when it exported 1.97 million hl, the Czech Association of Beer and Malt Producers was quoted by the local press on October 20. The rise in beer exports was attributed to the increased number of breweries who started exporting their production, according to the Association's chairman, Jan Vesely. Vesely pointed out that the ownership of Czech breweries by foreign companies also contributed to the export rise. Beer production in the country registered a slight year-on-year increase in the first half of 2003 to 8.98 million hl.

24 October, 2003