China: Due to increases in the prices of barley, rice, water and electricity, the average cost of beer production has risen 7 per cent, according to the China Winery Association. However, almost all major breweries on the mainland dare not raise prices for fear they will lose out in the fiercely competitive market. So far, only Hong Kong-listed Tsingtao Brewery and Harbin Brewery have announced slight price increases.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, grain prices rose 30 per cent in March year on year, pushing overall food prices up by 7.9 per cent.

28 April, 2004