Czech breweries exported some 2.13 million hectoliters of beer in 2003, an all-time high and increase of 8 % over the previous year, according to figures released by the Association of Malthouses and Breweries, Interfax posted on April 22. The share of exports in total beer output rose 1.7 5 to 11.5 % last year. Germany was the CR's biggest beer export market, accounting for 38 % of the country's total beer exports. Slovakia was second, accounting for 16 %, followed by Great Britain with 10 %, the US with over 8 % and Russia with 4 %.

The biggest increases were registered in exports to Germany, Russia and Sweden. Exports to Poland fell considerably last year, following the opening of a new production facility in the country by Plzensky Prazdroj. Plzensky Prazdroj accounted for some 30 % of total Czech beer exports in 2003, while Budejovicky Budvar was responsible for 25 % and Staropramen for some 20 %. Budvar exported over 45 % of its total production, the highest level of any Czech brewery.

Czech beer output rose by 3 % yr/yr in 2003 to 18.55 million hl. Some 16.4 million of the total was sold on the domestic market, while annual per capita consumption stood at 160 liters.

The Plzensky Prazdroj group topped the list of beer producers, turning out 8.6 million hl of beer last year. The group includes the Prazdroj, Gambrinus, Velke Popovice and Radegast breweries. Pivovary Staropramen was next, with production of 2.8 mln hl. The group includes the Staropramen, Smichov, Branik and Ostravar breweries. The Budejovicky Budvar brewery was third, with production of 1.2 millin hl last year.

Domestic malthouses turned out a record 483,693 tonnes of malt in 2003, an increase of 7.4 % yr/yr. Some 40 % of that was exported, with the bulk going to Poland, Russia and Germany.

There are currently 48 breweries operating in the Czech Republic under the control of 38 firms, along with 36 mini-breweries and 36 malt houses.

23 April, 2004