Latvian beer sales are to increase by 7% in 2003 versus 2002. Between January and November 2003 Latvian brewers sold about 135.03 million litres of beer versus 125.88 million litres sold in the same period last year a 7.2% increase, according to the Latvian Brewers’ Union.

Alus Nams, the Incukalns brewery, only joined the union in September. Having sold 2.11 million litres of beer by late November, the entry of Alus Nams means this year’s results cannot be strictly compared to last year’s. The union includes 17 other breweries, which sold 132.91 million litres of beer in the eleven-month period, an increase of 5.6% on last year. The most productive brewer so far this year is Aldaris with 59.6 milion litres of beer sales. It holds a market share of around 45%.

17 December, 2003