Ukrainian brewing force, ZAO Oboloni, increased its production for the first 11 months of 2003 by 5.6% up to 566.9 million litres versus the same period of 2002. Beer production of the company rose 13.2% in the period up to 412.7 million litres. In 2002 Oboloni output 389 million litres of beer, 11.2% more than in 2001. 60% of Oboloni production is beer. The company owns 25% of Ukrainian beer market. About 15% of all its production is exported.

Oboloni plans to launch a new bottling line with a capacity of 110 thousand bottles (0.5 l) per hour in spring 2004, marketing director of the company, S. Kravetz, said. The new line of German production will allow the company to increase its bottling capacity by 20%, Kravetz said. The implementation of the line together with other reconstructions will lead Oboloni to a production capacity of 700 million litres per year.

06 January, 2004