Turkey: The Turkish beer and malt producer, Anadolu Efes, had a successful year in 2003. The company registered 29% increase of beer sales in 2003 versus 2002 up to 1.175 billion litres, according figures revealed on January 16. Total beverage sales for the company, were up by 10% at 1.408 billion litres for the year. Domestically, Anadolu Efes saw beer sales rise by 7% to 610 million litres. Meanwhile total Turkish beer sales, including exports, increased by 8% to 642 million litres.

Foreign operations, carried out by its Netherlands-based subsidiary Efes Breweries International, (EBI), saw beer sales abroad rise by 68% to 532 million litres. EBI sales abroad accounted for 48% of Efes overall beer sales, up from 37% in 2002. Sales of Stary Melnik and Efes Pilsener in Russia accounted for 59% of EBI sales.

20 January, 2004